# Jim Vena

> Jim Vena is CEO of Union Pacific Corporation and Union Pacific Railroad, a role he assumed on August 14, 2023. He began as a CN brakeman in Jasper in 1977, rose through operating and commercial roles to become CN’s chief operating officer, and later led Union Pacific operations. His leadership combines firsthand railway experience, operating discipline and an ambition to combine Union Pacific with Norfolk Southern, a proposed transaction still under regulatory review in October 2026.

- **Role:** Chief Executive Officer at Union Pacific Corporation and Union Pacific Railroad
- **Organizations:** Union Pacific Corporation, Union Pacific Railroad, Canadian National Railway, FedEx, Direct ChassisLink, Inc., Association of American Railroads
- **Education:** Bachelor of Science in Mathematics and Chemistry, University of Alberta, Advanced Graduate Diploma in Management, Athabasca University
- **Known for:** Advanced from CN brakeman to chief operating officer and later CEO of Union Pacific., Union Pacific credited the team he oversaw as COO with more than $1 billion in efficiency savings., Recipient of the 2025 Railroad Innovator Award from Progressive Railroading and RailTrends.

## Career timeline

- **1977** — Joined Canadian National as a brakeman in Jasper, Alberta.
- **1977-2013** — Advanced through operating and commercial positions, including conductor, locomotive engineer, trainmaster and superintendent; led all three CN operating regions.
- **2013-2016** — Executive vice president and chief operating officer of CN; retired in June 2016.
- **2019-2020** — Union Pacific chief operating officer, effective January 14, 2019.
- **2021** — Union Pacific senior advisor to the chairman.
- **2023** — Became Union Pacific CEO and a board member on August 14.
- **2025** — Union Pacific and Norfolk Southern announced a proposed merger on July 29; Vena accepted the Railroad Innovator Award in November.

## Achievements

- Advanced from CN brakeman to chief operating officer and later CEO of Union Pacific.
- Union Pacific credited the team he oversaw as COO with more than $1 billion in efficiency savings.
- Recipient of the 2025 Railroad Innovator Award from Progressive Railroading and RailTrends.
- Under his leadership, Union Pacific reported 2025 operating revenue of $24.5 billion and a GAAP operating ratio of 59.8%.

## Latest updates

- **2026-10** — The STB’s October 6 decision accepted four late-filed descriptions of anticipated responsive applications in the proposed UP-NS merger proceeding; review remained ongoing.
- **2026-09** — On September 18, the STB denied several motions seeking summary denial of the revised merger application.
- **2026-08** — On August 18, the STB removed the merger proceeding from abeyance and adopted a review schedule; this was not approval of the transaction.
- **2026-01** — Union Pacific reported full-year 2025 results, including $24.5 billion operating revenue and a reported operating ratio of 59.8%.
- **2025-11** — Vena accepted the 2025 Railroad Innovator Award at RailTrends.

## Links

- Website: https://www.up.com/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jim-vena-a72286122

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Profile page: https://yespress.io/jim-vena
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Last updated: 2026-10-21