Annie Adams is a transformational business and human capital leader with over two decades of experience at Norfolk Southern, a Fortune 300 transportation company. As Chief Human Resources Officer, she leads HR and Labor Relations, shaping enterprise-wide workforce strategy to meet the demands of a rapidly evolving business and technological landscape.

Previously as Chief Transformation Officer, Adams oversaw HR, LR, Information Technology, Corporate Communications, and Sustainability, driving modernization and digital innovation across the organization. Her leadership has been pivotal in aligning talent strategy with business transformation, cultivating a high-performance culture, and advancing Norfolk Southern’s competitiveness in the age of AI.

A champion of workforce development, Adams led the relocation of Norfolk Southern’s headquarters to Atlanta, strategically located in the heart of the city’s innovation hub to foster collaboration with leading academic institutions such as Georgia Tech. She oversaw the design and development of a state-of-the-art campus designed to attract top talent, inspire innovation, and serve as a dynamic and engaging place to work.

Adams serves as an independent director at Specialty Building Products and sits on the boards of the Woodruff Arts Center and the Midtown Improvement District. She holds a B.A. in Psychology from Davidson College, a Master’s and Ph.D. in Industrial-Organizational Psychology from Rice University.