(CSX issued the following news release on June 4.)
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Clarence Gooden, CSX Corporation executive vice president and chief commercial officer announced today that Dean M. Piacente has been named vice president-chemicals and fertilizer for CSX Transportation.
Piacente, who reports to Gooden, will lead sales and marketing efforts in the company’s chemicals and phosphate & fertilizer groups. Piacente replaces Glenn L. Katz who has taken a position outside of the company. Most recently, Piacente served as president and managing director of TRANSFLO Corporation, a subsidiary of CSX Corporation
“Dean is a leader with an in-depth knowledge of the industry and the business segments that he will be leading,” added Gooden. “We are fortunate to have an executive like Dean ready to take the lead in this important area of our business. With his prior experience, I am confident that the company will see continued volume and revenue growth and enhanced customer satisfaction.”
In the first quarter of 2004, CSX Transportation reported continued growth in volume and revenue in both the chemicals and phosphate & fertilizer markets, which include commodities such as liquid petroleum gas, sulphur and phosphate rock. In the first quarter, chemical shipments increased 1% quarter over quarter while revenue was up 2%. Phosphate and fertilizer loads grew 3% and revenue increased 2% versus the same period in 2003.
In addition, Glen Soliah has been selected to replace Piacente as president of TRANSFLO. Soliah will be responsible for continuing to grow the TRANSFLO franchise by targeting new geographic markets throughout North America to locate additional terminals, creating more growth for rail traffic. Soliah will also lead the organization in developing additional services, while maintaining the excellent environmental and safety standards that TRANSFLO has established in the marketplace.
“After many years in TRANSFLO, Glen has the experience and knowledge to perform an outstanding job as President,” said Gooden. “He has a strong understanding of bulk transloading operations coupled with keen insights in running a business that will help TRANSFLO become financially stronger and even more successful in the future.”
Prior to assuming his new role, Piacente held a number of positions within the CSX Transportation sales and marketing organization including director – minerals sales and marketing, responsible for aggregates; assistant vice president-minerals and chemicals; and assistant vice president market pricing and yield management. Piacente earned a Bachelor of Science degree from Florida State University.
Soliah joined CSX Technology’s Finance organization in 1996, and, since that time, has served in finance and operations roles within TRANSFLO. Most recently, Glen was director of operations and chief operating officer for TRANSFLO. Prior to joining CSX, he was vice president of finance with the Hamilton Group, and worked for Johnson & Johnson’s Vistakon division in Jacksonville.
CSX Corporation, based in Jacksonville, Fla., owns the largest rail network in the eastern United States. CSX Transportation and its 34,000 employees provide rail transportation services over a 23,000 route-mile network in 23 states, the District of Columbia and two Canadian provinces. CSX Corporation also provides intermodal and global container terminal operations through other subsidiaries.