OTTAWA — Aircraft industry executive Cynthia Garneau has been appointed as the new president and CEO of VIA Rail Canada, replacing Yves Desjardins-Siciliano, who had held the position for five years.
Her five-year term begins May 9. Her appointment, as well as the appointment of three members of VIA’s board of directors, were announced Friday by Minister of Transport Marc Garneau.
Cynthia Garneau has been president of Bell Helicopter Textron Canada since 2016. She joined the company in 2004 as a contracts and compliance manager and also held positions involving supply chain, public affairs, and government relations. She had previously worked at Bombardier Aerospace.
A lawyer, she has been a member of the Quebec Bar since 1994, and holds degrees in specialized education and law from Sherbrooke University.
The Journal de Quebec reports that Desjardins-Siciliano, in a letter to VIA Rail colleagues, indicated that he had hoped for a second term as head of the passenger rail company.
“But, at the same time, I am delighted that our next president brings the experience and the energy necessary to maintain growth and continue our fleet modernization projects and our [High Frequency Train] project,” Desjardins-Siciliano wrote. The latter project would build a dedicated, passenger-only right-of-way between Toronto and London, Ontario. [See “Passenger rail line will need some private funding, VIA CEO says,” Trains News Wire, Nov. 15, 2018.]
Named as directors, for four-year terms, are Grant Christoff, a lawyer who has served as counsel for the First Nations Health Authority and Saultea First Nations since 2015; Miranda Keating Erickson, vice president of Alberta Electric System Operator since 23010; and Viola Ann Timmons, president and vice-chancellor of the University of Regina since 2008.
“I am pleased to announce that these highly qualified Canadians have agreed to play important roles in the leadership of VIA Rail Canada,” Minister of Transport Garneau said in a press release. “Their appointments will ensure continued good governance.
“I would also like to take this opportunity to thank Mr. Yves Desjardins-Siciliano for his valuable service over the past five years. As CEO, he has accomplished a great deal at VIA Rail Canada, including growing ridership, advancing the fleet renewal project and developing the proposal concerning High Frequency Rail.”
— Note: French-language material appears through use of Google Translate.
Looks like coincidence on the name. Unless daughter-in-law…
another person with NO Railroad experience !!! Incredible !!
i totally agree with Jim Kerner as nobody should have to have someone as bad as Richard Anderson.He has done more to destroy Amtrak than anyone they have ever had.
DO NOT PAY ANY ATTENTION TO THESE ANNOUINCEMENTS
IT IS ALL POLOTICS AND THE TRACK IS NOT STRAIGHT !
Seems like a familiar scenario. I hope that she is not as destructive to Canadian passenger trains as Anderson has been to American ones.
Is there any relationship between Cynthia Garneau and Marc Garneau otherr than appointee and appointer?
Leo Mullin former CEO of Delta had previously been a VP at Conrail, Gerald Grinstein who replaced Mullin at Delta had been CEO of Burlington Northern. Oscar Munoz who is currently CEO of United Airlines previously was President and COO of CSX.
I find it interesting that Aviation background folks are appointed to RR positions of authority but I have never heard a RR executive appointed to Aviation authority. Ive been an A&P 24 years and worked for a RR for 2 years. I get that 2 years is not much but…….. my 2 cents.
I hope and pray that she doesn’t turn into the Richard Anderson of VIA Rail!