CSX Corp. Appoints Steve Angel as New President and CEO, Succeeding Joe Hinrichs
CSX Corp. one of North America’s leading rail transportation companies, announced a major leadership transition today. The company’s Board of Directors has appointed Steve Angel as President, Chief Executive Officer, and a member of the Board, effective immediately. Angel succeeds Joe Hinrichs, who has stepped down from his roles as President, CEO, and Director after three years of service with the company.
This leadership change marks an important new chapter for CSX as it continues to strengthen its operational performance, enhance customer service, and focus on long-term shareholder value. Despite the transition, CSX emphasized that its operating performance remains robust and reaffirmed its guidance for full-year volume growth, underscoring confidence in the company’s trajectory.
A Strategic Appointment at a Pivotal Time
The appointment of Steve Angel reflects a careful and targeted selection process led by CSX’s Board of Directors. According to John Zillmer, Chairman of CSX, the Board evaluated a range of candidates before unanimously choosing Angel, citing his deep experience, proven leadership skills, and track record of generating strong shareholder returns.
“We are excited to welcome Steve as our new CEO,” said Zillmer. “He is a visionary leader with a demonstrated ability to create long-term value and guide companies through complex transformations. The Board conducted a very targeted process, and Steve was the clear choice to lead CSX. We remain laser-focused on advancing CSX’s strategic priorities and maximizing shareholder value, and we are confident Steve has the right expertise and background to help us deliver our next phase of growth.”
The Board’s endorsement underscores Angel’s reputation as a seasoned executive capable of navigating large-scale industrial organizations through change, growth, and competitive markets.
Who Is Steve Angel?
Steve Angel brings more than 45 years of executive leadership experience, with much of his career spent leading multinational, publicly traded companies. He is widely regarded as a results-oriented leader who combines strategic vision with disciplined operational execution.
Angel is best known for his tenure at Praxair, Inc., a global leader in industrial gases. He served as Praxair’s CEO from 2007 until 2018. Following Praxair’s merger with Linde AG, Angel became CEO of the combined company, Linde plc, the world’s largest industrial gases and engineering enterprise. He held this role until 2022, when he transitioned to Chair of the company’s Board.
Under Angel’s leadership, both Praxair and Linde delivered remarkable returns for shareholders:
- Praxair (2007–2018): Total shareholder return of 257%.
- Linde (2018–2022): Total shareholder return of 219%.
- Post-merger growth: Since the formation of Linde plc, the company’s market capitalization increased by 141%, translating to more than $131 billion in additional value.
These achievements demonstrate Angel’s ability to deliver sustainable growth, even in highly competitive and capital-intensive industries.
Angel also has prior experience with General Electric (GE), where he spent over two decades in various management roles. Notably, during his time at GE, he worked closely with locomotive and rail operations—experience that gives him direct insight into the rail sector’s unique challenges and opportunities.
Looking ahead, Angel is set to retire from Linde’s Board in January 2026, enabling him to fully focus on steering CSX through its next phase of growth.
Angel’s Vision for CSX
In his first statement as CEO of CSX, Angel emphasized his commitment to safety, customer service, and shareholder value.
“I’m truly honored to step into the role of CEO and grateful for the trust that John and the Board of Directors have placed in me,” Angel said. “It’s a privilege to join a company with such a proud history and an incredibly dedicated team of more than 23,000 employees. Together, they work tirelessly every day to connect industries, communities, and economies. My top priorities will be ensuring the safety of the railroad and our employees, delivering reliable service to customers, and increasing long-term value for shareholders. I look forward to working closely with the team and the Board as we build on CSX’s strong momentum and pursue key initiatives to drive sustainable growth.”
His message reflects continuity with CSX’s current strategy while signaling a sharpened focus on operational reliability and employee engagement.
Joe Hinrichs: A Legacy of Service
The transition also marks the end of Joe Hinrichs’ tenure as President and CEO of CSX, a role he assumed in 2022. Hinrichs played a significant role in enhancing CSX’s operations, strengthening customer relationships, and fostering a culture rooted in safety and collaboration.
Board Chairman John Zillmer acknowledged Hinrichs’ contributions:
“On behalf of the Board, I want to sincerely thank Joe for his leadership over the past three years. His dedication to strengthening our operations, investing in people, and building a collaborative culture has laid a strong foundation for CSX as we move into this exciting next chapter.”
Hinrichs himself expressed pride in the progress achieved under his leadership and optimism about CSX’s future:
“It has been a privilege to serve as CEO of CSX. I am proud of the progress we have made in improving performance, strengthening customer relationships, and building a culture centered on safety and collaboration. I am deeply grateful to our team for their hard work and commitment—they are among the best in the business. I leave with pride for what we accomplished together and full confidence that under Steve and the Board’s leadership, the company will continue to grow stronger, delivering lasting value to all stakeholders.”
Implications for CSX’s Future
The leadership transition comes at a time of resilience and opportunity for CSX. The company has maintained strong operating performance, with efficiency initiatives and growth strategies helping it navigate macroeconomic challenges. By reaffirming its full-year volume growth outlook, CSX signaled confidence in its operational momentum even amid leadership change.
Angel’s appointment could also position CSX to:
- Strengthen Operational Efficiency: His history of driving disciplined capital allocation and operational excellence may translate into further cost efficiencies and higher returns.
- Expand Shareholder Value: Given his proven track record at Praxair and Linde, investors may expect enhanced shareholder returns over time.
- Enhance Safety and Reliability: Angel has emphasized safety as a core priority, aligning with CSX’s commitment to employee well-being and community trust.
- Leverage Technological Advancements: With his background in industrial innovation, Angel may guide CSX in adopting new technologies to enhance rail performance, automation, and sustainability.
CSX’s announcement of Steve Angel as President and CEO represents both continuity and renewal. The company retains its strong performance foundation built under Joe Hinrichs while gaining the strategic leadership of an executive renowned for delivering shareholder value and operational excellence.
As CSX moves forward, the focus will remain on safety, customer service, and growth—principles that align with the railroad’s role in powering the North American economy. For employees, customers, investors, and communities, this transition marks the beginning of an important new era for CSX.