The Greenbrier Companies, an international supplier of equipment and services to global freight transportation markets, made several senior management promotions across business units, including commercial and leasing, the Greenbrier Manufacturing Organization (GMO), Greenbrier Rail Services (GRS), Greenbrier Management Services (GMS) and human resources.

First, the company’s board of directors appointed Brian Comstock chief commercial and leasing officer. In his new position, Comstock will execute Greenbrier’s go-to-market strategy in North America and South America. He will continue to direct all of Greenbrier’s commercial and leasing strategies in the Americas.

Comstock began his career in the railroad industry in 1980. Prior to joining Greenbrier in 1998, he served in commercial and operational roles at PLM Leasing, Transco Railway Products and Trinity Industries. At Greenbrier, Comstock advanced from a commercial team member to VP of sales and then to VP of sales and marketing. In April 2018, Comstock was appointed executive vice president of sales and marketing, North and South America. He serves on the boards of Greenbrier’s manufacturing joint ventures in Mexico and Brazil and interacts on an advisory basis with Greenbrier teams in Europe and the Gulf Cooperation Council nations.

After more than 35 years of service to Greenbrier, Mark Rittenbaum will retire in August 2022. Remaining an executive vice president and senior advisor to the chairman, he will aid the commercial and leasing group in its transition to new leadership. Rittenbaum continues to report to William A. Furman, chairman and CEO of Greenbrier, and will take on projects and other duties as assigned.

“Greenbrier president and COO Lorie Tekorius and I have worked with Mark and Brian over many years in our commercial and leasing business,” Furman said. “With Brian now performing his important new role and Mark’s help with a strong transition, Greenbrier is well-positioned to continue to grow and strengthen its commercial and leasing platforms for the future. For decades, both Mark and Brian have contributed to Greenbrier’s financial success and market competitiveness. They have driven the expansion of our product portfolios through successful interface with our manufacturing and engineering teams under the leadership of GMO president Alejandro Centurion. Together with other team members they developed multiple long-term railcar purchase agreements and strong customer relationships. Through their leadership, Greenbrier has grown its lease investor and customer base, contributing to sustained cash flow and shareholder value. Mark and Brian were both critical to executing the successful 2019 ARI acquisition and in facilitating market expansions around the world.”

In addition to Comstock’s promotion, William Krueger, senior vice president of GMO, assumed responsibility for Greenbrier facilities in Arkansas and Missouri that were acquired in the ARI acquisition. He also now manages all Greenbrier manufacturing automation and process development, reporting to Owen Whitehall, executive vice president of North American operations for Greenbrier. Krueger has decades of advanced manufacturing experience from senior management positions at Toyota, Nissan and General Motors.

It also was announced that GRS, comprised of Greenbrier’s wheels, parts and repair facilities, is now led by Rick Galvan. He joined Greenbrier in October 2019 as senior vice president of operations for GRS. Galvan succeeds Rick Turner, who had led GRS since 2013 and retired on Dec. 31, 2020. Galvan has 30 years of experience in the railroad industry at three Class I railroads. He most recently worked with Canadian National as its chief mechanical officer, leading a cross-functional team focused on U.S. and Canadian railcar and locomotive operations.

Dan Weiler, head of Greenbrier Management Services, now reports to Tekorius, along with Galvan. Weiler and Galvan will drive synergies between the GRS and GMS railcar aftermarket businesses.

Additionally, Laurie Dornan was promoted to senior vice president and chief human resources officer. Dornan works with business units to help drive talent development and succession planning efforts at Greenbrier. In addition, she manages compensation and benefits strategy along with human resources programs and initiatives. Dornan joined Greenbrier in 2014 and has more than 20 years of professional experience in human resources.

“These executive leadership advancements support Greenbrier’s policy to effectively develop future generations of talent while maintaining continuity in our current strategies and operations,” Furman said. “I am confident these organizational changes and a continued keen focus on leadership development will help Greenbrier grow now and into the future.”