Kansas City Southern, a transportation holding company with railroad investments in the U.S., Mexico and Panama, announced Wednesday that its longtime senior vice president and chief legal officer, W. James Wochner, is retiring.

Before Jim Wochner, who has been with KCS since 1981, retires March 31, 2019, the company’s associate general counsel and corporate secretary, Adam Godderz, will step up to serve as general counsel Jan. 1. He joined KCS in 2007 as associate GC, a position that made him responsible for supporting sales, marketing, purchasing and financial transactions.