KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Kansas City Southern said that Henry R. Davis of Mexico City, D.F., was elected as a member of the company’s board of directors by a unanimous vote of the current KCS board members at a meeting held Feb. 28 at the company’s headquarters in Kansas City, Mo.
Davis was elected to fill a vacancy created by the resignation from the board of Arthur L. Shoener, KCS’ president and chief operating officer, who resigned in order to allow the company to increase the number of independent directors on its board without increasing the size of the board. Davis will seek re-election by the shareholders of the company at its annual meeting to be held on May 1.
“In addition to being a respected business and civic leader in Mexico, Henry has served on the board of directors of a number of public and private corporations as well as socially oriented philanthropic institutions in Mexico,” said KCS chairman and chief executive officer Michael R. Haverty. “With the importance of Kansas City Southern de Mexico to our company as a whole, Henry’s perspective, counsel and guidance will be very valuable as we strengthen ties with Mexico and develop new business opportunities in Mexico.”
Davis serves as president of the investment firm Promotora DAC, S.A. de C.V., which focuses its investments in the financial and real estate sectors. He served as president, chief executive officer and vice chairman of the board of Grupo Cifra from 1983, until its acquisition by Wal-Mart de México in 1998. He is a director of Grupo Bimbo, S.A.B. de C.V, Ixe Grupo Financiero S.A. de C.V. and Grupo Aeroportuario de Pacífico S.A.B. de C.V. Mr. Davis holds a bachelor of science in business administration from the National University of Mexico and a Management Development Program certificate from the Harvard Business School.
“With President Calderon’s program of new infrastructure development throughout Mexico, and Kansas City Southern de Mexico’s significant capital investments, it is clear that rail transportation is vital to the development of Mexico’s industrial base and its economic future,” Davis said. “I am honored to accept this position on Kansas City Southern’s board of directors.”
