Vanessa Allen Sutherland

Vanessa Allen Sutherland was named executive vice president of government relations and chief legal officer of Norfolk Southern Corp., a major transporter of industrial products, in April 2020. She joined Norfolk Southern in 2018 as vice president of law. Previously, she was board chairperson and CEO of the U.S. Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board. Before that, she was chief counsel at the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration.

Ms. Allen Sutherland has more than 25 years of experience in government and industry. Before her public service, she served as senior counsel for Altria Client Services Inc. and for Philip Morris International Inc. Earlier in her career, she was vice president and deputy general counsel for Digex Inc., a subsidiary of MCI Telecommunications Corp.

Ms. Allen Sutherland received her bachelor’s degree from Drew University. She earned her law degree and MBA from American University. She is a member of the Virginia Bar Association.

Ms. Allen Sutherland has been a director of Southern Company Gas since February 2021.