Key facts
- Gordon Trafton has been appointed the new Chair of the Board of Directors for Canadian Pacific Kansas City (CPKC).
- Isabelle Courville is retiring from the CPKC Board of Directors after 13 years.
- Trafton, who joined the board in 2017, was previously Vice-Chair.
- Courville was the first woman to chair a Class 1 railway board.
- Courville's leadership was instrumental in the combination of Canadian Pacific with Kansas City Southern.
Canadian Pacific Kansas City (CPKC) has announced a leadership change at the top of its board of directors. Isabelle Courville is retiring after 13 years of service, including her tenure as Chair since May 2019, during which she became the first woman to chair a Class 1 railway board. Gordon Trafton, a long-term board member and former Vice-Chair, has been appointed as the new Chair, effective immediately, as part of the board's succession plan.
Courville's time on the board was marked by significant growth and the transformative combination of Canadian Pacific with Kansas City Southern. She expressed pride in her contributions and confidence in the company's future under its current management led by Keith Creel. During her tenure, Courville also chaired the Audit Committee and the Management, Resources and Compensation Committee.
Trafton brings a wealth of experience from a 33-year career in the railroad industry, including senior leadership roles at Canadian National (CN). His background is expected to be valuable as CPKC continues its growth trajectory. He expressed gratitude for Courville's leadership and looks forward to working with the management team to maximize shareholder value.