News 19 Sep 2022

European rail CEOs meet to define sector’s priorities for 2023

Today in Berlin, Europe’s leading rail CEOs came together, on the occasion of the 70th General Assembly of the Community of European Railway and Infrastructure Companies (CER), to assess and define the priorities for the association’s work in 2023. Dr. Volker Wissing, German Federal Minister of Digital and Transport, joined the Association’s bi-annual statutory meeting for a fruitful exchange of views on railway policies. Also addressing the Assembly was Mr Oleksandr Kamyshin, CEO of Ukrainian Railways, who spoke of Ukraine’s absolute commitment to maintaining a functional rail service in this difficult time and expressed sincere gratitude for the ongoing support of the European railway community.

CER Management Board & Executive Directorship

The mandate of current Executive Director, Dr. Alberto Mazzola, was renewed for a further two-year tenure. The General Assembly also confirmed a new vice-Chair and one new member to the CER Management Committee (MC), which is now composed as follows:

  • Sophie Dutordoir, (SNCB/NMBS CEO) will now act as Vice-Chair alongside Jean-Pierre Farandou (SNCF CEO), Richard Lutz (DB CEO) and Krzysztof Mamiński (PKP CEO).
  • Zoltán Pafféri (MÁV Chairman-CEO) joins current members of the Management Committee Vincent Ducrot (SBB CEO), Luigi Ferraris (FSI CEO), of Ted Söderholm (ASTOC/ Green Cargo CEO), Jiří Svoboda (SZCZ Director General), Isaías Táboas Suarez (RENFE President), Marc Wengler (CFL Director General) and Oliver Wolff (VDV Managing Director).
  • Andreas Matthä, CEO of Austrian Federal Railways (ÖBB), continues his term of office, which is his second two-year tenure as the Chair of CER.

CER Chair Andreas Matthä (CEO Austrian Federal Railways ÖBB) said ”It is important that the CER Management Committee has a regional balance, reflects different priorities, and stands for diversity. SNCB CEO Sophie Dutordoir will represent our railway interests as new CER Vice-Chair and will serve as an excellent role model for all women in the rail sector. I am also pleased that the new CEO of MÁV, Zoltán Pafféri, will continue MÁV's European commitment in the CER Management Committee”.

CER Executive Director Alberto Mazzola said: “I would like to sincerely thank the CER members and Chair for their continued trust and support.  It has been a demanding two years for the sector with the Covid pandemic, war in Ukraine and the current energy crisis providing many challenges. However, rail has and will continue to prove its resilience and its credentials as the backbone of sustainable mobility. We look forward to a successful TEN-T agreement and to crucial investment in railways which will allow rail to meet its full potential and play a key role in meeting the ambitious objectives of the Green Deal.

Dr. Volker Wissing, German Federal Minister of Digital and Transport

Oleksandr Kamyshin, CEO of Ukrainian Railways

CER Executive Director Alberto Mazzola, re-appointed for another two-year tenure

New CER Vice-Chair, Sophie Dutordoir (SNCB/NMBS CEO) | Photo credit: (c) SNCB/NMBS

New CER Management Committee Member, Dr Zoltán Pafféri (MÁV Chairman-CEO) | Photo credit: (c) MÁV co