Joseph R. Hinrichs

Joseph R. Hinrichs (born 1966 in Columbus, Ohio) where his tenure has been marked by mixed financial performance and the ONE CSX initiative that some industry figures have claimed to be ineffective.

Early life and education Hinrichs was born in 1966 in Columbus, Ohio, United States He graduated with a Bachelor of Electrical Engineering magna cum laude from the University of Dayton in 1989 and earned an MBA from Harvard Business School in 1994. from 1998 to 2000 and later managed Ford's Van Dyke transmission plant in Sterling Heights, Michigan.

Hinrichs subsequently served as president of Ford Motor Company's global automotive business, where he oversaw the Ford and Lincoln brands. Throughout the late 2000s and 2010s, he managed Ford's operations across various continents. Media reports indicated the departure was linked to a management reorganization after poor fourth-quarter results, and some sources suggested it was not entirely voluntary. Through the ONE CSX initiative, he attempted to improve relations with workers, though reactions have been mixed. Some critics described his employee engagement efforts as primarily focused on public relations.

Under Hinrichs' leadership, CSX reported mixed financial outcomes. In 2024, the company posted a revenue of $14.54 billion, a 0.8% decline from 2023. Operating income fell 5% to $5.25 billion, while net income declined to $3.47 billion ($1.49/share) from $3.67 billion ($1.82/share) the previous year. CSX's stock price reached $37.67 in March 2024, before decreasing to $35.43 in August 2025.

Hinrichs was dismissed as CEO of CSX in September 2025 following pressure from investor Ancora Holdings. The decision followed concerns from the board over his handling of a potential merger with Union Pacific, as well as ongoing tensions about his compensation. Earlier that year, Union Pacific CEO Jim Vena had informally approached Hinrichs about a possible merger between the two railroads. Hinrichs did not pursue the proposal, and Union Pacific later reached an agreement with Norfolk Southern instead. After that deal was announced in July, CSX’s board questioned Hinrichs on the extent of his engagement with Union Pacific and why he had not fully informed them about the approach.

Affiliations Hinrichs is advisor and board member at companies such as Goodyear, Exide Technologies, Luminar Technologies, microDrive, and First Move Capital. Additionally, he serves on the boards of the US-China Business Council and Climate Leadership Council.