The SNCF will change bosses after the Olympic Games. The government announced this Tuesday that Jean-Pierre Farandou will not be reappointed for a second term at the head of the railway group but will continue his mission during the summer “in order to guarantee the successful organization of the Olympic and Paralympic Games”.
After the competition, “the President of the National Assembly and the President of the Senate will be informed by the President of the Republic of the name of the envisaged successor of Mr. Jean-Pierre Farandou”, who has chaired the group since 2019, detailed the press release. .
Jean-Pierre Farandou had until now always made known his intention to continue for a second term as president of the SNCF. He should then have left office in July 2025, because he reached the age limit (68 years).
The CEO is at the heart of a controversy with Bercy. He was summoned by the Minister of the Economy Bruno Le Maire to “be accountable” after the agreement on the end of his career at the SNCF.
Signed on April 22 by the four unions representing the railway company, a very rare event in the railway group, the agreement will allow railway workers to cease their activity before retirement, with more than a year not worked and paid at 75% depending on the category, sparking accusations of misuse of the pension reform implemented last year. Provisions which have sparked criticism from the right and part of the government.
In addition to his summons to Bercy, Jean-Pierre Farandou is called to explain himself this Tuesday afternoon before the Committee on Regional Planning and Sustainable Development of the Senate next Tuesday to discuss the “worrying consequences of the agreement”.
Jean-Pierre Farandou was appointed in November 2019 with the primary mission of restoring the SNCF accounts and implementing the 2018 railway reform.
Under his mandate, the status of railway workers disappeared in January 2020 – a consequence of the reform – and his company was faced with two major strike movements against the pension reform, in 2019-2020 then in 2023.
He also had to face the Covid-19 crisis and the total shutdown of TGVs then the organization of health trains to transport the sick and unload hospitals in certain particularly affected regions.
Jean-Pierre Farandou is also the one who brought the SNCF accounts back into the green with historic results in 2022 and 2.4 billion euros in profit then 1.3 billion euros in 2023.
The SNCF is facing an unprecedented enthusiasm among the French for rail, which is reflected in record numbers of people on trains, but also a shortage of trains.
