Patrick Ottensmeyer was elected to J.B. Hunt Transport Services’ board of directors, effective Jan. 12, the carrier announced earlier this month.
Ottensmeyer, a 17-year railroad industry executive, fills a 10th director position on its board, according to the release.
Prior to his new position, Ottensmeyer was president and CEO of Kansas City Southern from 2015 until April 2023, when Canadian Pacific acquired KCS to create Canadian Pacific Kansas City. He also served as EVP of sales and marketing at KCS as well as EVP and CFO at the railroad.
His role in guiding the merger between the two railroads and experience working in a regulated industry was valued by The Greenbrier Companies, a global freight transportation market supplier, when it appointed Ottensmeyer to its board in June.
“Pat's leadership role in the CPKC merger demonstrates his vision for economic growth and supply chain integration,” said Greenbrier Board Chair Thomas Fargo said. “Through CPKC, Pat helped create the first fully-integrated rail freight route spanning all three nations of North America.”
The railroad executive also has extensive cross-border trade experience. Ottensmeyer served as the U.S. chairman of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce’s U.S.-Mexico Economic Council from 2019 to 2023, which contributed to the development of the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement.
He is still a U.S. chamber board member and is also a director for Watco Companies, a transportation and supply chain services company with locations around North America and Australia.
