---
schema_version: "secwatch.filing_event.v1"
accession: "0001437749-23-020718"
form_type: "8-K"
ticker: "UNP"
cik: "0000100885"
company_name: "UNION PACIFIC CORP"
filed_at: "2023-07-26T23:59:59+00:00"
generated_at: "2026-06-13T02:04:54.728129+00:00"
event_type: "leadership"
sentiment: "positive"
materiality_score: 0.8
calibrated_materiality_score: 0.8
confidence: "high"
source: SEC EDGAR
---

# Union Pacific names Jim Vena CEO, Beth Whited President; adds two directors, new safety committee

## Summary
- Vena (former COO) becomes CEO effective Aug 14; Fritz steps down.
- Whited named President; she was EVP Sustainability & Strategy.
- Mike McCarthy elected Board Chair; Sheri Edison chairs Governance committee; Jane Lute chairs new Safety & Service Quality Committee.
- Two new board members: Doyle Simons (ex-Weyerhaeuser CEO) and John Wiehoff (ex-C.H. Robinson CEO) effective immediately.
- Vena base salary $1.25M, bonus target $2.25M; Whited base $800k, bonus target $1M.

## SEC filing metadata
- accession: 0001437749-23-020718
- form_type: 8-K
- ticker: UNP
- cik: 0000100885
- company_name: UNION PACIFIC CORP
- filed_at: 2023-07-26T23:59:59+00:00
- event_type: leadership
- sentiment: positive
- materiality_score: 0.8
- calibrated_materiality_score: 0.8
- confidence: high
- sec_items: 5.02, 7.01, 9.01
- EDGAR index: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/100885/000143774923020718/0001437749-23-020718-index.htm
- EDGAR primary document: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/100885/000143774923020718/unp20230726_8k.htm

## Machine-readable alternates
- HTML: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0001437749-23-020718
- JSON: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0001437749-23-020718.json
- Plain text: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0001437749-23-020718.txt

## Key facts
- Executive change
  V. James Vena was appointed as Director at UNION PACIFIC CORP.
  - Action: appointed
  - Role: Director
  source text: the Board appointed Mr. Vena to the Board, effective August 14, 2023
  evidence_url: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/100885/000143774923020718/0001437749-23-020718-index.htm
- Executive change
  Elizabeth F. Whited was appointed as President at UNION PACIFIC CORP.
  - Action: appointed
  - Role: President
  source text: the Board appointed Elizabeth F. Whited, 58, the Company's current Executive Vice President - Sustainability and Strategy, as the Company and Railroad’s President, effective August 14, 2023.
  evidence_url: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/100885/000143774923020718/0001437749-23-020718-index.htm
- Executive change
  Lance M. Fritz departed as Director at UNION PACIFIC CORP.
  - Action: retire
  - Role: Director
  source text: Mr. Vena succeeds Lance M. Fritz, who will cease to serve as the Company's President and Chief Executive Officer and will retire from the Board on August 14, 2023.
  evidence_url: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/100885/000143774923020718/0001437749-23-020718-index.htm
- Executive change
  John P. Wiehoff was appointed as Director at UNION PACIFIC CORP.
  - Action: appointed
  - Role: Director
  source text: appointed Doyle R. Simons, former President and CEO of Weyerhaeuser Company, and John P. Wiehoff, former Chairman, President and CEO of C.H. Robinson Worldwide, Inc., to the Board, each effective July 26, 2023.
  evidence_url: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/100885/000143774923020718/0001437749-23-020718-index.htm
- Executive change
  V. James Vena was appointed as Chief Executive Officer at UNION PACIFIC CORP.
  - Action: appointed
  - Role: Chief Executive Officer
  source text: the Board appointed V. James Vena, 64, the Company's former Chief Operating Officer, as Chief Executive Officer of the Company and Union Pacific Railroad Company, the principal operating subsidiary of the Company (the “Railroad”), effective August 14, 2023.
  evidence_url: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/100885/000143774923020718/0001437749-23-020718-index.htm
- Executive change
  Doyle R. Simons was appointed as Director at UNION PACIFIC CORP.
  - Action: appointed
  - Role: Director
  source text: appointed Doyle R. Simons, former President and CEO of Weyerhaeuser Company, and John P. Wiehoff, former Chairman, President and CEO of C.H. Robinson Worldwide, Inc., to the Board, each effective July 26, 2023.
  evidence_url: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/100885/000143774923020718/0001437749-23-020718-index.htm
- Executive change
  Lance M. Fritz departed as President and Chief Executive Officer at UNION PACIFIC CORP.
  - Action: cease to serve
  - Role: President and Chief Executive Officer
  source text: Mr. Vena succeeds Lance M. Fritz, who will cease to serve as the Company's President and Chief Executive Officer and will retire from the Board on August 14, 2023.
  evidence_url: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/100885/000143774923020718/0001437749-23-020718-index.htm

This AI-assisted summary is a reading aid. Review the linked SEC EDGAR filing before relying on any specific claim.