Stephen F. Angel
Summary
Stephen F. Angel is CSX’s President, Chief Executive Officer and a director, positions he has held since September 28, 2025. ([csx.com](https://www.csx.com/index.cfm/about-us/media/press-releases/csx-corp-announces-leadership-transition/?mobileFormat=true&utm_source=openai))
Biography
Angel began his career at General Electric, where he spent 22 years in management positions, including work connected to locomotive and rail operations. He joined Praxair in 2001 as an executive vice president, became president and chief operating officer in 2006, and served as Praxair’s chairman, president and CEO from 2007 through 2018. ([investors.csx.com](https://investors.csx.com/management/board-of-directors/person-details/default.aspx?ItemId=aeab2f07-f4cf-49e3-b063-e3bf744d8aed&utm_source=openai)) Angel became CEO of Linde plc in 2018 after the combination of Praxair and Linde AG, and served as Linde’s chairman from 2022 until his planned retirement from its board in January 2026. During that period, he oversaw the integration of the two industrial-gas companies. He holds a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering from North Carolina State University and an MBA from Loyola College in Baltimore. ([investors.csx.com](https://investors.csx.com/management/board-of-directors/person-details/default.aspx?ItemId=aeab2f07-f4cf-49e3-b063-e3bf744d8aed&utm_source=openai))
Notable achievements
- Oversaw the combination of Praxair and Linde AG, creating Linde plc, a major global industrial-gases and engineering company. ([investors.csx.com](https://investors.csx.com/management/board-of-directors/person-details/default.aspx?ItemId=aeab2f07-f4cf-49e3-b063-e3bf744d8aed&utm_source=openai))
- Led Praxair as chairman, president and CEO from 2007 to 2018, a period CSX describes as involving significant transformation and strategic growth initiatives. ([investors.csx.com](https://investors.csx.com/management/board-of-directors/person-details/default.aspx?ItemId=aeab2f07-f4cf-49e3-b063-e3bf744d8aed&utm_source=openai))
- Brought prior General Electric experience involving locomotive and rail operations to CSX’s leadership team. ([investors.csx.com](https://investors.csx.com/management/board-of-directors/person-details/default.aspx?ItemId=aeab2f07-f4cf-49e3-b063-e3bf744d8aed&utm_source=openai))
- During his first full quarter as CSX CEO, the company reported a 25% year-over-year increase in profit and a 6% reduction in operating expenses, while stating that operations were improving. ([apnews.com](https://apnews.com/article/c0be7be79e67b4fbbd6ead14e1cfc3ef?utm_source=openai))
Problem areas / controversies
- Angel had only recently begun running a railroad when he took the CSX role; his previous chief executive experience was primarily in industrial gases. ([jaxdailyrecord.com](https://www.jaxdailyrecord.com/news/2026/feb/26/csx-ceo-says-he-flunked-retirement-and-found-the-right-fit/?utm_source=openai))
- He became CEO amid activist-investor pressure for a leadership change and possible railroad consolidation, creating strategic expectations that were not of his own making but are now associated with his tenure. ([investing.com](https://www.investing.com/news/stock-market-news/csx-appoints-steve-angel-as-ceo-amid-activist-pressure-4261195?utm_source=openai))
- CSX reported a 22% year-over-year decline in third-quarter 2025 profit shortly after the transition, with performance affected by construction projects that constrained capacity and flexibility. ([apnews.com](https://apnews.com/article/4230cbe388b626f2391f575da9dcdac7?utm_source=openai))
- CSX’s fourth-quarter 2025 profit slipped 2%, with weak demand and severance costs from layoffs carried out after Angel took over contributing to the result. ([apnews.com](https://apnews.com/article/93e319c9bd52568256233fc7fa014842?utm_source=openai))