Norfolk Southern board elects Richard Anderson as chair

June 12 (Reuters) - Railroad operator Norfolk Southern NSC.N said on Thursday it had elected former Delta Air Lines CEO Richard Anderson as the independent chair of the board effective immediately.

Anderson will additionally serve as chair of the Executive Committee and Strategy & Planning Committee, the company said.

The aviation veteran's appointment comes after Claude Mongeau resigned from the U.S. railway operator's board as chairman earlier this month, citing personal reasons.

In May last year, activist hedge fund Ancora Holdings won backing from Norfolk Southern shareholders for board representation, resulting in Anderson's appointment to the company's board.