CP's Creel accepts Progressive Railroading's Railroad Innovator Award

Canadian Pacific President and Chief Operating Officer Keith Creel on Friday accepted Progressive Railroading's Railroad Innovator Award for 2014 at the magazine's RailTrends conference in New York City.

The award recognizes an individual's outstanding achievement in the rail industry. A strategic thinker renowned in rail circles for his operating acumen, Creel began his railroad career in 1992 at Burlington Northern Railroad as an intermodal ramp manager in Birmingham, Ala., and joined the Illinois Central Railroad in 1996.

He later rose through the ranks at CN, holding several key management positions, including executive vice president of operations, senior VP of the eastern and western regions, and VP of the prairie division. By age 35, Creel was considered the youngest operating officer in North America. In February 2013, he was appointed CP's president and COO.

"It's a real honor to be recognized by Progressive Railroading. I've been fortunate in my career to have known and worked with several of the past recipients of this award and am humbled to be counted in their company," said Creel, according to a press release issued by CP. "Being a railroad innovator is not a solitary process; it starts with family at home, requires team building and a strong vision – something we have developed at CP."

During his remarks at RailTrends, Creel also highlighted the following key points:
• Innovation is engrained in the culture of the "new CP." It takes on many forms, "but always starts with a conversation between people who are committed to looking for a better way to do something."
• CP is committed to leading the discussion on North American rail transportation, and expects to champion actions that will improve productivity for the industry as a whole.
• For the good of business and the broader economy, the entire transportation supply chain must work at maximum efficiency.

To learn more about Creel's career and the reasons he won this year's Railroad Innovator Award, read this article from Progressive Railroading's August 2014 issue.