William Herrmann

Executive Vice President, Chief Legal and Human Resources Officer & Corporate Secretary

William “Byl” Herrmann serves as Executive Vice President, Chief Legal and Human Resources Officer & Corporate Secretary, a role he assumed in October 2024. As a member of the company’s Executive Leadership Team, Byl leads both the Law and Human Resources departments, aligning legal strategy and people strategy to support Amtrak’s mission and long-term goals.

In his legal capacity, Byl sets the strategic vision and operating plan for the Law department, which includes Commercial, Litigation and Compliance law groups, as well as Claims Management. As Corporate Secretary, he advises and supports the Amtrak Board of Directors on corporate governance matters. He also serves as Amtrak’s Chief Ethics Officer, responsible for administering the Amtrak Code of Ethics and Standards for Behavior.

As Chief Human Resources Officer, Byl oversees all aspects of Amtrak’s people strategy, including talent acquisition, strategy and engagement, labor relations, total rewards, and leadership development. He is committed to fostering a high-performance, inclusive culture that supports employee growth and organizational excellence.

Byl joined the Amtrak Law department in 1999 and has held a wide range of roles with increasing responsibility. He also previously served as Vice President of Human Resources, gaining valuable experience that informs his current dual leadership role.

Before joining Amtrak, Byl focused on labor and employment law and policy, including roles with the American Trucking Associations and the New York City Mayor's Office of Labor Relations.

He holds a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science with a pre-law concentration from Ohio University and a Juris Doctor from the Case Western Reserve University School of Law.