Wayne,
Your instincts may be right. Bentley and White are very competent. Either one could take on the role. But my guess is that a successor may well come from the ranks of NS or CSX, since they will all be closely allied after the lawsuit is settled.
The beauty here is that, in most other industries, NYRR would have been gobbled up by one of the big boys by now. But since the law favors the continuation of small mom-and-pop operators, NYRR is insulated from that opportunity/threat.
We have always believed that NYRR's position in the marketplace - its exclusive location - is what sets it apart from the rest. If I were a director I would be thinking, hmmmm... if we're going to be working hand-in-glove with NS and CSX, how can we cement that relationship? Answer, hire someone who is known to, respected by, and trusted by both. Separate companies with a shared vision, working cooperatively to lower costs to clients while increasing volume. Its a nice formula, basically everybody wins.
So here's a total hipshot: You are right, its a done deal, and that deal is someone friendly to all three players. Either from inside one of the companies, or perhaps a fringe player in one of the related industry associations or boards.
Time will tell...may it not be too much time.
Best regards,
Subman |
