LAKE OSWEGO, Ore. - The Greenbrier (NYSE:GBX) Companies, Inc. (NYSE: GBX) announced the passing of board member Patrick J. Ottensmeyer, who died over the weekend at the age of 67. Ottensmeyer was remembered for his significant contributions to the rail industry and international trade relations.
Ottensmeyer joined the Greenbrier Board in 2023, after a distinguished career at Kansas City Southern (NYSE:KSU) (KCS), where he served as President and CEO from 2015 until the company's merger with Canadian Pacific (NYSE:CP) in 2023. His tenure at KCS began in 2006, and he played a pivotal role in the rail sector and in shaping trade policies, particularly the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA).
His expertise in U.S.-Mexico border operations and his leadership within the U.S. Chamber of Commerce's U.S.-Mexico Economic Council were instrumental during critical trade negotiations. Ottensmeyer also co-chaired the Brookings Institute USMCA Initiative, focusing on strengthening North American supply chains, and led the Truman Library Institute.
Over the years, Ottensmeyer was recognized with several industry accolades, including the NARS Edward R. Hamberger Lifetime Achievement Award in 2023, Ingram's Executive of the Year Award in 2022, and Railway Age's Co-Railroader of the Year Award the same year. He was also named Railway Age Railroader of the Year in 2020 and received Progressive Railroading's Railroad Innovator Award in 2019.
Board Chair Admiral Thomas B. Fargo and CEO and President Lorie Tekorius expressed their condolences, highlighting Ottensmeyer's passion for the rail industry, his visionary leadership, and the lasting impact he left on trade policies and the North American rail sector. They extended their deepest sympathies to his family and friends, acknowledging his role as a valued colleague and friend within the company.
Greenbrier, based in Lake Oswego, Oregon, is a prominent supplier of equipment and services to the global freight transportation markets, including the manufacturing, servicing, and leasing of railcars. The company's press release statement served as the source of information for this article.
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