SNCF chief Farandou exits for French government post
Jean-Pierre Farandou is leaving SNCF after six years as CEO to become France’s new labour and solidarity minister, ending a protracted interim period that began in March 2024.
The 68-year-old was appointed Sunday evening as part of Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu’s second government, following the collapse of his first cabinet within days amid parliamentary chaos. Farandou had remained as SNCF’s interim chief since the government declined to renew his mandate last year but struggled to find a successor during months of political paralysis after snap elections.
He was asked to stay on past retirement age to ensure continuity through Paris 2024, one of the busiest periods in SNCF’s history. In June 2025, he confirmed he would remain in post, noting “there is no age limit for an interim CEO.”
Leadership transition expected
Jean Castex, a former prime minister who now leads RATP, is widely expected to take over as SNCF president. The handover has been anticipated for months but repeatedly delayed by political turbulence.
Farandou’s move to government formally ends his tenure at SNCF, as French law bars holding both a ministerial role and a leadership position in a state-owned company. He is expected to play a central role in reopening negotiations over President Emmanuel Macron’s highly controversial 2023 pension reform.
Why it matters: Farandou is known for his moderate, conciliatory approach to labour relations. During his time at SNCF, he signed a 2024 agreement on end-of-career arrangements for railway workers to avert strikes during the Olympics. His appointment signals an attempt to rebuild dialogue with unions and ease social tensions around pension reform.
What’s next: Castex’s arrival at SNCF will mark a shift from metro operations to mainline rail challenges. Questions remain over the operator’s long-standing push for an additional EUR 1 billion annually for infrastructure investment—a campaign Farandou championed amid warnings of a “spiral of degradation” on the network.