Canadian Pacific confirms former rival Hunter Harrison as its new CEO

By The Canadian Press
June 29 2012 07:18 AM

CP19241495 — Hunter Harrison smiles as he speaks to a colleague prior to a Pershing Square Capital Management town hall meeting for Canadian Pacific Railway shareholders meeting in Toronto on February 6, 2012. Canadian Pacific Railway (TSX:CP) named Hunter Harrison as its new president and chief executive officer on Friday, a widely expected move that quickly raised objections from his former employer. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Pawel Dwulit

CALGARY – Canadian Pacific Railway (TSX:CP) has named Hunter Harrison as its new president and chief executive officer, the result of reforms pushed through by the company’s largest shareholder.

Harrison’s appointment was widely expected after a high-profile battle waged against the Calgary-based railway’s former leadership by William Acker, head of a New York-based investment fund.

Harrison is the former CEO of Canadian National Railway (TSX:CNR).

He is credited with turning CN into North America’s most successful railway company — a track record that Acker says is needed at Canadian Pacific.

Acker’s Pershing Square became the largest shareholder of Canadian Pacific last year, beginning months of battles that resulted in the departure of the railway’s chief executive, its chairman and several directors.

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