Southern Railway of British Columbia (“SRY”), a major transporter of freight in British Columbia and part of the Washington Companies, today announced that Gerald Linden, SRY’s Director of Business Development, will succeed Derek Ollmann as President of the Company, effective immediately. Mr. Ollmann has stepped down from his role at SRY to lead Montana Rail Link, another Washington Company, as President.
“I am thrilled to be taking on this expanded role at SRY, a company that I have been proud to serve in numerous capacities over the course of my tenure,” said Mr. Linden. “I look forward to continuing to collaborate with our partners to enhance our offerings, provide the highest level of service and satisfaction to SRY’s customers, and work with our exceptional team to operate safely as we provide seamless rail connections to markets throughout North America.”
“Our philosophy at the Washington Companies has always been focused on developing exceptional talent,” said Larry Simkins, Washington Companies President. “The deep bench of outstanding leaders across our platform and the value and service they bring to customers is a testament to the success of that strategy. Since Gerald joined SRY more than 13 years ago, he has contributed significantly to its strong service culture and is well-known and trusted by SRY’s customers. We are confident that Gerald is the right leader to guide SRY toward continued growth and success.”
Mr. Simkins continued, “Gerald also worked closely with Derek to develop SRY’s long term strategic plan, and is well-positioned to guide the company in its execution. We thank Derek for his superb leadership of SRY and the strong foundation he built, and we look forward to his continued success and leadership as President of Montana Rail Link.”
Mr. Ollmann commented, “I am honored to have spent the past 20 years at SRY and excited for the next chapter under Gerald’s capable leadership. Gerald has made invaluable contributions to the service culture SRY is renowned for, and he has developed strong customer relationships that are integral to the company’s success. I am confident that with Gerald at the helm, SRY’s future is extremely bright.”
About Gerald Linden
Mr. Linden joined SRY Rail Link in June 2006 as Director Business Development, and was responsible for Sales, Marketing and Customer Service. He began his career in the transportation industry in 1996 and held various positions with Canadian Pacific Railway in the Forest Products Marketing and Sales Group. Mr. Linden earned a Bachelor of Science from the University of British Columbia and a Masters of Business Administration from McGill University. He serves on the Board of Directors for the Fraser River Industrial Association, of which SRY is a founding member.
About Southern Railway of British Columbia
Southern Railway of British Columbia (SRY) is a major transporter of freight in British Columbia. Based in New Westminster, we provide businesses and customers located in the Lower Mainland and Fraser Valley with seamless rail connections to markets throughout North America. SRY owns over 125 miles of track and interchanges with four North American Class 1 railroads: CPR, BNSF, CN, and UP. Southern Railway of Vancouver Island Limited, a related company, operates over 120 miles of track on Vancouver Island. Southern Railway of Vancouver Island offers freight service to points on Vancouver Island and is connected to the Lower Mainland by SRY’s Annacis Rail Marine Terminal.
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