Amtrak has promoted SVP and chief operating and commercial officer Stephen Gardner to the newly established role of president, effective Dec. 1. In the role, Gardner will oversee marketing operations, planning and asset development and government affairs and corporate communications as well as lead day-to-day operations, drive the company's effort to regain and add customers and partners, and advance Amtrak's long-term goals, according to Amtrak.
The position of president was established to help Amtrak survive and remerge from the Covid-19 pandemic, which has caused the rail service provider's revenue to drop to about 25 percent of its pre-Covid levels, according to Amtrak.
"We have two urgent challenges in 2021. We need to successfully manage our business through this global pandemic, and we need to take the right steps to ensure that Amtrak is strong and viable for the next 50 years and beyond," said Amtrak CEO Bill Flynn in a statement. "Establishing the president position reflects these significant responsibilities and creates a leadership structure to address the challenges ahead."