Patrick Whitehead in

Patrick Whitehead

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Executive Vice President & Chief Operating Officer at CN
📍 Edmonton, Alberta, Canada

As Executive Vice President & Chief Network Operations Officer at CN, Patrick Whitehead leads the Make the Plan strategy, overseeing network operations, engineering, and safety. A 30-year rail industry veteran with a Masters in Transportation Management, he is focused on disciplined, scheduled railroading to drive efficiency and network fluidity.

He is a graduate of three distinct executive programs at The Wharton School, covering advanced management, finance, and corporate governance.

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Experience
32 Years
Current Role
Executive Vice President & Chief Operating Officer
Job Level
Leadership
Location
Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
Personality Overview

How Patrick shows up

Communication Style
Decision Approach
Work Preference

Behavioral traits and communication patterns that shape how this person evaluates opportunities, builds trust, and makes decisions in professional settings.

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Priorities

Topics Patrick cares about

Network Optimization
He is responsible for 'making the plan' at CN, focusing on metrics like train speed and car velocity to improve asset utilization and network efficiency.
Workplace Safety
Publicly emphasizes that safety isn't a campaign but a daily commitment to looking out for one another and making consistent, safe choices.
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Career

Work history

10-2025
Executive Vice President & Chief Operating Officer
CN
11-2023 - 10-2025
Executive Vice President & Chief Network Operations Officer
CN
7-2022 - 11-2023
Sr Vice President - Network Operations
CN
9-2021 - 7-2022
Vice President Operations
CN
3-2021 - 9-2021
General Manager
CN
In the press

Media appearances

CN Announces COO Succession and Evolution of Operating Structure. Featured in CN (Canadian National Railway) Official Newsroom
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Patrick Whitehead Executive Vice‑President and Chief Network Operations Officer – Offer Letter (PDF). Featured in CN (Canadian National Railway) – Media Documents
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Education
12-2024 - 12-2025
Advanced Finance Program
The Wharton School
3-2025 - 4-2025
Corporate Governance Program
The Wharton School
5-2023 - 10-2023
Advanced Management Program
The Wharton School
Social presence
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Behavioral profile

DISC profile (public)

DISC behavioral profile

Dominance, influence, steadiness, and calculativeness scores with guidance on how this person prefers to communicate and decide.

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