Norfolk Southern Corp., one of the county's leading transportation companies, has appointed Cynthia Earhart as its newest executive vice president and chief financial officer.

"After an extensive review of internal and external candidates, the board is pleased to announce Cindy's appointment as CFO," James Squires, Norfolk Southern chairman, president and CEO, said.

Earhart, who has been with Norfolk Southern since 1985, started in the accounting department. She most recently served as executive vice president and chief information officer. In addition to her CFO responsibilities, she will continue upholding her information technology duties.

"Cindy has a strong financial background, a comprehensive understanding of NS' operations, and a proven track record as a senior executive who challenges thinking and encourages innovation," Squires said. "As we continue to leverage technology enhancements to drive further improvements in customer service and productivity, we are confident that having Cindy in this key position will accelerate our progress. We welcome Cindy to her new role and look forward to benefiting from her expertise as we build on our success in reducing costs, driving profitability, and accelerating growth."

Earhart received her bachelor of science in accounting from the University of Missouri and completed the Advanced Management Program at Harvard Business School.