Who is replacing Mike Cory as COO at CSX?

CSX is not naming a single successor. Instead, two senior vice presidents now report directly to CEO Steve Angel: Doug Ryhorchuk (Operations, overseeing transportation, engineering, and mechanical) and Casey Albright (Network Operations and Service Design). This distributed structure maintains operational continuity during the transition.

How long will the leadership transition take?

Mike Cory will provide transition services through May 8, 2027, giving CSX more than two years to ensure a smooth handoff of responsibilities. This extended timeline prioritizes operational stability and knowledge transfer across the organization.

What was Mike Cory's background before joining CSX?

Cory previously served as Executive Vice President and COO at Canadian National Railway (CN) before retiring in 2019. He returned to the rail industry by joining CSX in September 2023, bringing decades of operational expertise to the role.

Why did CSX choose to split the COO role rather than hire a single replacement?

CEO Steve Angel indicated that Cory had successfully developed a strong bench of operations leaders during his tenure. The split structure leverages two seasoned executives with complementary expertise: Ryhorchuk's transportation and mechanical focus combined with Albright's network operations and service design background.

What operational achievements did Cory contribute during his tenure?

CSX credited Cory with helping drive safety and productivity to record levels while developing a strong pipeline of operations leaders. His contributions strengthened the company's operational foundation, enabling the current leadership transition to proceed from a position of strength.

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CSX COO Mike Cory Retires, Operations Split Between Two Executives

Oct 13, 2026

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The signal

CSX announced the retirement of Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer Mike Cory, who joined the company in September 2023 after a career spanning decades in rail operations at Canadian National Railway. Rather than naming an immediate successor, CSX is distributing COO responsibilities between two senior operations executives: Doug Ryhorchuk, who brings nearly 40 years of CN experience, and Casey Albright, a 30-year CSX veteran. Both will report directly to President and CEO Steve Angel, with Cory providing transition services through May 2027.

This leadership restructuring reflects CSX's confidence in its deep bench of operations talent, which Cory helped develop during his tenure. CEO Angel credited Cory with achieving record safety and productivity levels while building a strong pipeline of operational leaders. The extended transition timeline through May 2027 suggests CSX is prioritizing operational continuity and knowledge transfer rather than risk-taking with an external appointment.

The split of COO responsibilities across two experienced executives is not uncommon in large transportation companies and may indicate a strategic move to specialize operations oversight: Ryhorchuk focuses on transportation, engineering, and mechanical functions, while Albright concentrates on network operations and service design. This structure preserves institutional knowledge while leveraging both leaders' complementary expertise.

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