Unless you work in the railroad industry, you probably didn't notice CSX's announcement last month that it was swapping out chief legal officers, with Nathan Goldman stepping aside after seven years in the role and 18-year CSX veteran Michael Burns succeeding him.

That's because it all came off so smoothly. As CEO Joe Hinrichs said in a news release, the appointment "highlights our confidence in the exceptional depth of talent within our organization. We are fortunate to have an outstanding team of railroaders poised to harness our current momentum and propel us toward even greater success."