NORTH American Class 1 Canadian Pacific Kansas City (CPKC) has confirmed that the former president and CEO of Kansas City Southern (KCS), Mr Patrick Ottensmeyer, died on July 28. He was 67.

Ottensmeyer served as the final president and CEO of KCS from 2015 until April 2023, the date of completion of the merger of railway with fellow Class 1, Canadian Pacific (CP).

Cross-border traffic to Mexico was a key component of KCS’ business, and Ottensmeyer is credited for successfully navigating the turmoil in the run-up to the recast of the North American Free Trade Agreement (Nafta) by former US president, Mr Donald Trump.

Ottensmeyer also oversaw the transition to a Precision Scheduled Railroading operating model at KCS, and the merger with CP.

Flags across the CPKC network in Canada, the US and Mexico are flying at half mast to mark Ottensmeyer’s passing.

"Pat's vision and leadership played a monumental role in the great history of KCS as he helped reshape the railway industry," says Mr Keith Creel, CPKC president and CEO, who worked closely with Ottensmeyer during the CP-KCS merger.

"We have lost a remarkable leader and a cherished friend. Pat's legacy lives on and can be seen in the work we do every day at CPKC. His contributions as a railroader and as a person will never be forgotten.”

Prior to serving as president and CEO, Ottensmeyer served was executive vice-president for sales and marketing at KCS from October 2008 until March 2015.

He joined KCS in May 2006 as executive vice-president and chief financial offer (CFO) and came to the railway with substantial financial experience from previous roles as treasurer and CFO. Ottensmeyer taught finance at DePaul University and had a degree in finance from Indiana University.

Following the CPKC merger in 2023, Ottensmeyer stayed on for the remainder of that year as a special advisor on Mexican affairs. After retiring from CPKC, he joined the board of directors of The Greenbrier Companies, Watco and JB Hunt. He also was co-chair of the Brookings Institute USMCA Initiative and chair of the Truman Library Institute.

He twice won the Railway Age Railroader of the Year Award in 2020 and 2022.

"We mourn his tragic passing and extend our deepest condolences to his fiancée Deanne, his entire family, many friends and former colleagues," Creel says.