Logistics industry mourns the passing of Patrick Ottensmeyer

Ottensmeyer had decades of rail industry experience. He served as president and CEO of Class I railroad Kansas City Southern (KCS) from 2015 until the completion of the merger creating Canadian Pacific Kansas City (CPKC) in 2023, after which he moved to JB Hunt. Prior to that, from 2008 to 2015, he was executive vice president of sales and marketing at KCS and from 2006 to 2008, he was executive vice president and chief financial officer at the railroad. In 2022, he and Keith Creel, president and CEO of Canadian Pacific, won Railway Age’s Co-Railroaders of the Year Award, in connection with the CP and KCS merger.

“Pat’s vision and leadership played a monumental role in the great history of Kansas City Southern as he helped reshape the railway industry,” said Creel this week. “We have lost a remarkable leader and a cherished friend. Pat’s legacy lives on and can be seen in the work we do every day at CPKC. His contributions as a railroader and as a person will never be forgotten. 

“We mourn his tragic passing and extend our deepest condolences to his fiancée Deanne, his entire family, many friends and former colleagues,” Creel added.

In 2021, Ottensmeyer outlined the strength of the merged companies at the Finished Vehicle Logistics North American conference, noting that the improved coordination of services that the merger brought would result in a more reliable and consistent service, something in which customers were definitely interested.

Alongside him on that occasion was Dennis Manns, executive leader of North Motors Group. This week Manns paid tribute to Ottensmeyer.

“Pat Ottensmeyer was a major supporter of the finished automotive logistics industry,” said Manns. “He would constantly search for ways to improve his automotive customers service. Pat would always ask ‘what can I do and my railroad do to make you better?’

Manns said Ottensmeyer was generous with his time and would actively search for ways his railroad could better support the automotive logistics needs of his customers and colleagues.

“When I asked Pat to join the FVL conference in Newport Beach a couple years ago, he didn’t hesitate and replied ‘I will be there, and looking forward to discussing industry needs’,” said Mann. “Pat was very dedicated to making sure his railroad and the automotive industry were becoming better every day. Pat will be missed by many people throughout our industry.”

John Roberts, executive chairman of the board of directors at JB Hunt, also added his respects: “We are greatly saddened to learn of the recent passing of Mr Patrick Ottensmeyer,” he said. ”Patrick was an inspiring leader that joined our J.B. Hunt board and family earlier this year, bringing decades of rail experience from his time leading Kansas City Southern. Throughout his career, Patrick received many recognitions for his leadership, innovation and commitment to bettering the industry. Our thoughts and prayers are with the Ottensmeyer family during this time of sorrow.”

Ottensmeyer served as the US chairman of the US Chamber of Commerce’s US-Mexico Economic Council (USMXECO) from 2019 to 2023 and was instrumental in representing business interests during the formation of the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) from 2017-2020.

He also served on the board of directors for the US Chamber of Commerce and for The Greenbrier Companies, a leading international supplier of freight transport equipment and services. He also worked for Watco Companies, a single-source transport and supply chain services company.

In 2023, Ottensmeyer received the NARS Edward R. Hamberger Lifetime Achievement Award and, in 2022, he took the Ingram’s Executive of the Year Award. Ottensmeyer received the Railway Age Railroader of the Year recognition for the first time in 2020 and in 2019 he was the recipient of Progressive Railroading’s Railroad Innovator Award.