American Airlines nominates BNSF CEO Kathryn Farmer for board

American Airlines has nominated Kathryn (Katie) Farmer, CEO of BNSF Railway, to its board of directors, with the election set for the annual shareholder meeting on June 11, 2025. If elected, Farmer will serve on the board’s Finance and Safety Committees. Both American’s chairman Greg Smith and CEO Robert Isom praised Farmer’s extensive operational and marketing expertise, as well as her leadership experience in a highly regulated industry, citing her as a significant asset to the board. Farmer, who has been with BNSF since 1992 and CEO since 2021, has held a variety of senior leadership roles, including chief operations officer and group vice president of consumer products. Beyond her role at BNSF, Farmer is active on several boards and holds degrees from Texas Christian University. The nomination is seen as a strategic move to strengthen American Airlines’ leadership as it continues to operate globally as a major carrier.