Jean Castex has been appointed Chairman and CEO of SNCF Group for a four-year mandate, following the procedure outlined in Article 13 of the French Constitution.
Castex takes over from Jean-Pierre Farandou, who oversaw the implementation of the rail reform “Pour un nouveau Pacte Ferroviaire,” stabilised the company’s finances, and promoted additional investment in the rail network during his tenure.
Castex, who served as Prime Minister of France between 2020 and 2022 and led RATP from 2022 until now, enters the role with stated priorities including operational performance, competitiveness, network regeneration, and climate adaptation.
His career began at the Cour des Comptes in 1991. He later held roles in public administration and local politics, including as mayor of Prades from 2008 to 2020 and as a senior official involved in the Paris 2024 Olympic Games organisation. From 2011 to 2012, he served as Deputy Secretary General at the Élysée.
SNCF Group reported revenue of EUR 43.4 billion in 2024. The company operates in 170 countries and employs 290,000 people, including 217,000 in France. Its five main subsidiaries include SNCF Réseau, SNCF Voyageurs, Keolis, Rail Logistics Europe, and Geodis.
