Canadian National Railway Company filed a Form 6-K on October 29, 2026, announcing the planned retirement of Chief Financial Officer Ghislain Houle and the appointment of Jamie Lockwood as his successor, both effective February 1, 2027.

Key Highlights

  • CFO retirement: Ghislain Houle, Executive Vice-President and Chief Financial Officer, will retire effective February 1, 2027, after more than three decades with CN.
  • Successor named: Jamie Lockwood, currently Vice-President, Investor Relations and Special Projects, will assume the role of Executive Vice-President and Chief Financial Officer on February 1, 2027.
  • Transition support: Houle will serve as Strategic Advisor to the President and CEO from February 1, 2027, through his final day with the company on March 31, 2027.
  • Continuity plan: According to the filing, Houle will remain in the CFO role through January 31, 2027, "ensuring continuity through CN's year-end reporting cycle."
  • Internal promotion: The filing states Lockwood joined CN in 2008 and has held leadership roles across Finance, Strategy, Investor Relations, and Operations.
  • Succession process: The filing notes Lockwood's appointment "follows a comprehensive succession planning process" reflecting CN's focus on developing internal talent.

Canadian National Railway Announces CFO Leadership Transition for February 2027

Canadian National Railway Company (NYSE:CNI, TSX: CNR) disclosed the planned departure of its longtime Chief Financial Officer and the selection of an internal successor in a press release filed with regulators on October 29, 2026. According to the filing, Ghislain Houle, who has served as Executive Vice-President and CFO since 2016, will retire from that position on February 1, 2027, after more than 30 years with the company. The filing notes that Houle has "provided steady financial leadership through periods of significant economic and industry change" and helped "strengthen CN's financial foundation."

Jamie Lockwood, who the filing identifies as currently serving as Vice-President, Investor Relations and Special Projects, was selected to succeed Houle as Executive Vice-President and Chief Financial Officer, also effective February 1, 2027. The filing states that Lockwood joined CN in 2008 and has accumulated experience across Finance, Strategy, Investor Relations, and Operations. CN's President and CEO Tracy Robinson is quoted in the filing describing Lockwood as "a highly respected leader with deep knowledge of CN and broad experience across our business."

To support an orderly handover, the filing states that Houle will transition to the role of Strategic Advisor to the President and CEO beginning February 1, 2027, and will remain with the company through March 31, 2027, after which he will retire. Lockwood is quoted in the filing stating he is "honored to take on the role of Chief Financial Officer" and looks forward to "maintaining strong financial discipline and creating long-term value for our shareholders and customers." The filing was signed by Jessica Syms, Assistant Vice-President and Corporate Secretary.

What Was Disclosed

CN disclosed the retirement of CFO Ghislain Houle, effective February 1, 2027, and the appointment of Jamie Lockwood as his successor. Houle will serve as a Strategic Advisor through March 31, 2027, before fully departing the company.