THE European Rail Industry Supply Association (Unife) has confirmed the appointment of Mr Enno Wiebe as the group’s new director general, succeeding Mr Philippe Citroën.
Wiebe will take up the role on June 1 and is familiar with Brussels in his current role as technical director of the Community of European Railways and Infrastructure Companies (CER). Wiebe joined CER in 2012 and has acted as CER’s leading advisor on all activities relating to the implementation of the Fourth Railway Package’s Technical Pillar. He has also served as chair of the CER-European Union Agency for Railways (ERA) Steering Unit and secretary of the Group of Representative Bodies at CER.
Wiebe also worked for the International Union of Railways (UIC) as a manager of research programmes and projects from January 2007 to January 2012. He began his career in the rail sector at German Rail (DB) in 1999.
“I am very grateful to be entrusted with the leadership of Unife and its incredibly important work for the European rail supply industry,” Wiebe says. “It is an honour to continue the good work that has been done and an impulse to build on that to further improve worldwide railway systems. Looking ahead, 2024 is a crucial year to drive the agenda for our industry, even more so with the upcoming EU elections.”
Citroën is set to depart Unife next month after nearly 13 years as director general. Citroën’s near 40-year career in the rail sector included a stint as CEO of Systra from 2002 to 2011, and key roles at French National Railways (SNCF) and Paris transport operator RATP.
Wiebe’s appointment was welcomed by Mr Michael Peter, Unife chair and CEO of Siemens Mobility. Peter says he is “confident that Enno and Unife will continue to strengthen… our rail community.”
He also praised Citroën’s contribution to the rail sector during his time at Unife.
“On behalf of all Unife members, I would like to express our thanks and gratitude to Philippe Citroën,” Peter says. “He played a key role in major advances for our sector, such as Shift2Rail, the Fourth Railway Package, and ensuring our industry’s interests are considered in EU legislation.”
Philippe Citroën will reflect on his career in an exclusive interview in IRJ’s upcoming April edition.
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