CSX announces legal leadership succession

Rail company CSX Corporation is promoting Michael Burns to become senior vice president and chief legal officer (CLO), effective January 2, 2025.

Burns will succeed Nathan Goldman, executive vice president and CLO, who is retiring on January 1 after spending 21 years with the company. 

Burns is at present vice president and general counsel with CSX. In his new role, he will oversee all of the company’s legal and regulatory affairs, the corporate secretary’s office, risk management, police and infrastructure protection, environmental and hazmat matters and audit functions.

Since joining CSX in 2006, he has taken on roles of increasing responsibility, initially focusing on employment and benefits law before taking responsibility for the full law department and additional functions such as corporate secretary, risk management and environmental and hazmat duties. According to his LinkedIn profile, before joining CSX, Burns was an attorney with law firm Baker & Daniels.

Goldman joined CSX in 2003 as general counsel for business and later increased his responsibilities to include corporate governance. Before being appointed CLO in November 2017, he was vice president of risk and compliance and general counsel. According to the company, he helped steer the transition of three CEOs in eight years.

Joe Hinrichs, CSX president and CEO, says in a statement: ‘Nathan’s contributions to CSX have been highly valued and his expertise and dedication have been instrumental to our organization. His leadership will leave a lasting legacy, having developed the best group of legal, regulatory and compliance professionals in the industry. We are grateful to Nathan for his outstanding service and wish him all the best in his well-deserved retirement.

‘With 18 years of dedicated service and extensive experience with the company, Michael’s promotion to [CLO] will bring invaluable insight and stability as we advance our strategy to deliver profitable growth.’