Filed by Canadian National Railway Company
Pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act of 1933
Subject Company: Canadian National Railway Company
Commission File No. 333-94399
North America's Railroad FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Stock symbols: TSE & ME: CNR / NYSE: CNI
www.cn.ca
Canadian National announces executive appointments
MONTREAL, Feb. 8, 2000 -- Canadian National (CN) today announced three executive
appointments that will help it take advantage of new market opportunities.
Jean-Jacques Ruest is appointed vice-president, chemicals and petroleum. Ruest,
most recently CN's assistant vice-president, petroleum and plastics, will be
responsible for marketing and national account sales for CN's network, including
former Illinois Central Corporation (IC) territory. Ruest, a former executive of
ICI (Canada), a major chemical corporation, joined CN in 1996. He has 21 years'
experience in chemicals marketing, logistics, sales, business development and
operations.
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Ruest will be based in Montreal and replaces Edward Kammerer, who is moving to a
new position with special marketing design responsibilities related to the
proposed combination of CN and Burlington Northern Santa Fe Corporation (BNSF).
Kammerer, appointed CN vice-president, chemicals and petroleum, in 1999, was
vice-president, chemicals and petroleum, for IC. Prior to that Kammerer held
senior positions at Southern Pacific and in the chemical industry. Kammerer will
be based in Chicago.
Ruest and Kammerer will report to James M. Foote, CN's senior vice-president,
sales and marketing.
"The repositioning of these senior sales and marketing officers will allow us to
keep our focus on achieving this year's business plan while planning carefully
for an effective combination with BNSF," said Foote.
Sandi Mielitz is appointed vice-president, commercial development, Prairie
division. Mielitz, formerly CN's vice-president, grains and fertilizers
(Canada), will be responsible for ensuring the railroad and its customers reap
the maximum benefits of the pending reform of Canada's grain handling and
transportation system. She will also develop grain and fertilizers strategies
related to CN's proposed combination with BNSF. Mielitz joined CN in 1978 and
has held positions in public affairs and advertising, treasury, planning and
administration and marketing. She will be based in Winnipeg.
Ross Goldsworthy is appointed vice-president, grain and fertilizers (Canada).
Goldsworthy, who joined CN in 1981, will lead the marketing teams responsible
for CN's Canada-based grain and fertilizers businesses. Goldsworthy, formerly
assistant vice-president of the grain business unit at CN, held senior positions
in CN's Calgary-based bulk marketing group that served the railroad's coal,
fertilizer and sulfur shippers. Goldsworthy will be based in Winnipeg.
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Mielitz and Goldsworthy will report to Peter Marshall, vice-president of CN's
Prairie division.
Marshall said: "Reform of Canada's grain handling and transportation system in
Canada is long overdue. I'm confident that Mielitz and Goldsworthy will put CN's
customers in a position to take advantage of new grain opportunities."
CN and BNSF announced their proposed combination through a new company, North
American Railways, Inc., on Dec. 20, 1999. The combination will create a rail
system stretching 50,000 route miles, linking shippers and receivers throughout
Canada and 34 U.S. states, and employing 67,000 people. The combined system will
offer North American rail shippers greatly expanded single-line service options
and gateway choices; a coordinated marketing plan; reduced transit times;
enhanced reliability; unified customer service information, including easier
tracking, tracing and ordering; simplified billing; greater capacity in areas
subject to congestion; and improved asset utilization.
Canadian National Railway Company spans Canada and mid-America, from the
Atlantic and Pacific oceans to the Gulf of Mexico, serving the ports of
Vancouver, Prince Rupert, B.C., Montreal, Halifax, New Orleans, and Mobile,
Ala., and the key cities of Toronto, Buffalo, Chicago, Detroit, Memphis, St.
Louis, and Jackson, Miss., with connections to all points in North America.
Investors are urged to read the joint proxy statement/circular/prospectus
related to the CN/BNSF combination that was filed with the United States
Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) on Form F-4, together with any
amendments to it, as it contains important information. Investors can obtain
this and any other documents filed with the SEC without charge at the Internet
web site of the SEC (www.sec.gov). In addition, any documents incorporated by CN
by reference in the joint proxy statement/circular/prospectus are available
without charge from CN, as described on page three of the joint proxy
statement/circular/prospectus.
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Contact: Mark Hallman
System Director, Media Relations
(416) 217-6390
