CSX CEO Abruptly Departs Amid Rail Merger Frenzy

Leadership change: CSX announced on Sept. 29, 2025 that veteran industrial-gases executive Steve Angel will become its new President and CEO, effective Sept. 28. He “succeeds Joe Hinrichs, who has departed” CSX ^[1]. The board praised Angel’s decades of experience and said CSX’s operating performance “remains strong” with full-year volume growth still expected ^[2]. (John Zillmer, CSX’s Chairman, called Angel “the clear choice to lead CSX” into its next growth phase ^[3].)
Activist pressure: The leadership shakeup follows intense pressure from investors. Hedge fund Ancora Holdingshad publicly urged CSX to pursue a merger or replace Hinrichs, blasting CSX’s results as “anemic” with “disastrous operational performance” under his watch ^[4]. In August, another hedge fund, Toms Capital, quietly built a stake in CSX and demanded a board meeting, stoking speculation it would push for a rail consolidation ^[5] ^[6]. (The AP noted CSX acted “less than two months after” a fund urged it to “find another railroad to merge with… or fire” Hinrichs ^[7].)
Railroad consolidation: The CEO change comes amid a wave of industry mergers. In July, Union Pacific and Norfolk Southern agreed to an $85 billion megadeal that would create the first U.S. transcontinental railroad ^[8]. That deal has won support from labor unions and even ex-President Trump (who told reporters it “sounds good to me”) ^[9] ^[10]. By contrast, Warren Buffett has signaled that his BNSF Railway will not seek more rail mergers ^[11]. Industry observers note that with UP–NS approved, only BNSF and CSX remain as major U.S. carriers outside a coast-to-coast network ^[12].
Hinrichs’ record: Joe Hinrichs, a former Ford executive, took over CSX in 2022 and focused on labor and operations. Under his tenure CSX completed major projects (Baltimore’s Howard Street Tunnel widening and North Carolina’s Blue Ridge rebuild) ahead of schedule, and executives touted record customer satisfaction scores and volume growth above pre-COVID levels ^[13] ^[14]. Trains.com quoted analyst Anthony Hatch saying Hinrichs “improved labor relations” and had the railroad on pace to hit its targets ^[15]. But Ancora countered that CSX’s stock underperformed peers, labeling Hinrichs’ tenure as value-destructive. In an August letter they blamed him for “poor personnel selection” and said CSX was playing “catch-up in the rail consolidation race” ^[16] ^[17].
Angel’s agenda: Steve Angel, 70, brings over 45 years of executive experience. He was CEO of gas-industry giants Praxair and Linde (which merged under his watch) and began his career at GE’s locomotive unit ^[18] ^[19]. In his first memo to employees, Angel emphasized that CSX’s “focus remains clear: safety above all, dedicated service to our customers, growing our business… and continuous improvement in all we do” ^[20]. The board echoed this message, calling Angel a “visionary in creating long-term value” and confident he has “the right skillset” for CSX’s next chapter ^[21]. Angel himself pledged that his top priorities will be ensuring safety, reliable service and increased shareholder value ^[22].
Industry context: CSX’s change of course reflects shifting industry dynamics. The proposed UP–NS merger has already required federal review, and Axios noted it “could push other competitors — BNSF and CSX — into a deal of their own” ^[23]. President Trump’s open backing and new rail labor endorsements are seen as easing the regulatory path ^[24] ^[25], whereas the previous administration had been more skeptical of mega-mergers. Even the White House last month replaced a Biden-appointed STB (Surface Transportation Board) member, suggesting a more consolidation-friendly stance ^[26]. At the same time, Berkshire Hathaway’s Buffett has reiterated that BNSF will stick to partnerships rather than more takeovers ^[27].
Outlook for CSX: For now CSX says its fundamentals are solid. The company reiterated that operations are “strong” and volume growth is on track ^[28]. Its stock jumped roughly 3% on the leadership news ^[29]. But analysts warn Angel’s biggest test will be strategy. TD Cowen’s Jason Seidl noted Angel may “position the rail more strategically,” but cautioned that CSX shouldn’t rush into any deals “in the near term” ^[30]. Activists like Ancora have vowed to buy more shares if needed and expect the new CEO to aggressively pursue “opportunities to increase shareholder value,” including identifying a merger partner ^[31]. In short, CSX faces a fork in the road: continue bolstering its existing network and service, or finally join the merger wave that is reshaping U.S. freight rail. Angel’s early moves and any hints of deal talks will be watched closely.

Sources: Official CSX announcement ^[32]; AP/ABC News ^[33]; Reuters ^[34] ^[35] ^[36] ^[37]; industry outlets Trains.com ^[38] ^[39] ^[40]; local press ^[41] ^[42]; Axios ^[43] ^[44]; Ancora press release ^[45]. These cover the CSX leadership change, activist investor demands, and the wider context of U.S. rail consolidation.