FRENCH National Railways (SNCF) has confirmed the appointment of Laurent Trevisani as interim chairman and CEO following the departure of Jean-Pierre Farandou to become minister of Labour and Solidarity in the government of new French prime minister, Sébastian Lecornu.
Trevisani begins work immediately and will remain in post until the expected appointment of Jean Castex as permanent chairman and CEO. Castex, the current CEO of Paris transport authority RATP, was nominated last month as the new chairman and CEO of SNCF by French president, Emanuel Macron. His appointment is awaiting approval of a parliamentary commission representing both the National Assembly and the Senate.
Trevisani has served as deputy chief financial officer of SNCF since 2019. He joined the railway in 1996 as CFO and managing director of the freight subsidiary Naviland Cargo and then as deputy managing director leading of strategy, finance, and legal affairs. In July 2012, he became director of strategy for SNCF Group and managing director of SNCF Participations, leading the group’s mergers and acquisitions strategy. He expanded his role in October 2014 as director of finance and development for SNCF Mobility.
Farandou was appointed chairman and CEO of SNCF in November 2019. His departure follows a lengthy career at the railway, beginning in 1981, and which included the posts of executive chairman of contract public transport operator Keolis, SNCF deputy managing director, and CEO of high-speed operator Thalys, now rebranded as Eurostar.
In May 2024 the French transport ministry announced that Farandou would not be reappointed for a second term of office as SNCF CEO, but he agreed to remain in post as Paris hosted the Olympic and Paralympic Games last summer, and ahead of the appointment of a new chairman and CEO.
