Genesee & Wyoming Inc. (GWI) (NYSE: GWR) has named Michael E. Williams its director of corporate communications. He is responsible for all of the company's internal and external communications activities and reports to Chairman and CEO Mortimer B. Fuller III.

Mr. Williams brings 15 years of broad, business-to-business communications experience to GWI. He was previously responsible for branding and customer communications at BASF Catalysts LLC (formerly Engelhard Corporation, a Fortune 500 surface and materials science company), a global operating division of the BASF Group. Prior to that, he was marketing communications manager at Union Carbide Corporation.

“Mike has exhibited energy, leadership and entrepreneurial spirit throughout his career, and we're pleased to have his skills and experience as we continue to grow the company and strengthen its brand,” Fuller said.

Mr. Williams earned a bachelor of science in public relations and journalism from Utica College of Syracuse University.

GWI is a leading operator of short line and regional freight railroads in the United States, Canada, Mexico, Australia and Bolivia. GWI railroads operate in 26 U.S. states and two Canadian provinces and serve 12 U.S. ports. GWI operates more than 5,900 miles of owned and leased track and approximately 3,700 additional miles under track access arrangements.

"Safe Harbor" Statement under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995: Statements in this press release regarding Genesee & Wyoming's business which are not historical facts are "forward-looking statements" that involve risks and uncertainties. For a discussion of such risks and uncertainties, which could cause actual results to differ from those contained in the forward-looking statements, see "Risk Factors" in the Company's Annual Report or Form 10-K for the most recently ended fiscal year.