Union Pacific announced Jim Vena, chief operating officer, will move to a new role at the end of the year 2020. The company also announced Eric Gehringer will succeed Vena as executive vice president-Operations, effective Jan. 1, 2021, while Vena will remain employed at the company as senior advisor through June 2021. Vena, 62, joined Union Pacific in January 2019 to lead all aspects of the railroad's operations, including Unified Plan 2020 implementation. As Vena steps into the senior advisor role, he will be spending time in the field facilitating the complete transition of his Operating duties to Gehringer and Union Pacific's Operating team, while also focusing on achieving the strategic efficiency plans for 2021 and beyond. He will continue to report to the chairman and participate in board discussions. Gehringer will become executive vice president-Operations on Jan. 1, and will lead all of Union Pacific's Operating functions. Gehringer has served in many capacities throughout his 15-year career at Union Pacific. Starting in Engineering, Eric rose through the ranks to ultimately head the Engineering and Mechanical department prior to serving in his current role as senior vice president- Transportation.