Spanish national rail operator Renfe has appointed Álvaro Fernández Heredia as its new president.
Fernández Heredia replaces Raül Blanco, who has chaired the company since February 2023. His appointment follows a decision by the Spanish government earlier this month, at the proposal of transport and sustainable mobility minister, Óscar Puente.
The move comes as the rail operator faces increased competition from new entrants such as Ouigo and iryo, and as the company looks to expand operations into Italy.
Formerly the secretary general for sustainable mobility in Spain, Fernández Heredia is a civil engineer and brings 20 years of experience in the mobility sector to his new role, having worked in consulting, research and academia. He previously served as managing director of the Madrid Municipal Transport Company and as a professor of transport planning at the Technical University of Madrid, where he also led the university’s master’s programme in civil engineering.
Additionally, Fernández Heredia is a member of the advisory council of Spain’s Ministry of Transport and Sustainable Mobility, a member of the European committee of the International Association of Public Transport, and a member of the executive committee of the Collective Urban Transport Association.