Alstom CEO Martin Sion Takes Over as President of UNIFE
Signal
Martin Sion, CEO of Alstom, has become the new president of UNIFE, succeeding Michael Peter of Siemens Mobility.
Impact
neutralAlstom and UNIFE members will push for regulatory changes affecting European railway suppliers, while the European Commission may respond with new policies to enhance competitiveness. This leadership change could influence the strategic direction of the European rail supply industry.
On June 15, 2026, Martin Sion, the CEO of Alstom, was appointed as the new president of UNIFE, the European railway industry association, during the 35th UNIFE General Assembly held in Brussels. He succeeds Michael Peter, CEO of Siemens Mobility, who led the organization for three years. This leadership transition comes at a critical time when European railway suppliers are advocating for simpler regulations and a more robust export strategy from the European Union.
The assembly highlighted the need for the European railway industry to maintain its competitiveness against global players. During discussions, UNIFE members emphasized the importance of not reinventing existing regulations but rather simplifying them to foster growth. The current national fragmentation within the European single market continues to pose challenges, particularly in the railway sector.
Enno Wiebe, UNIFE’s Director General, noted a new spirit of collaboration among railway sector stakeholders and policymakers. The political visibility of the European rail supply industry is strong, but there is a pressing need for these ambitions to translate into actionable policies. Jozef Síkela, the European Commissioner for International Partnerships, attended the assembly and engaged with industry representatives on strategies to enhance the competitiveness of European companies, particularly through initiatives like the Global Gateway.
The assembly also featured an institutional panel titled “At the Crossroads of Competitiveness and Resilience,” which included prominent figures such as Magda Kopczyńska, Director-General of DG MOVE, and Oana Gherghinescu, Executive Director of the European Union Agency for Railways. Their participation underscores the importance of dialogue between the industry and European institutions.
Additionally, UNIFE announced the admission of three new full members: Magellan from the United Kingdom, Teltronic from Spain, and Zonegreen, part of the Sentric Safety Group from the United Kingdom. This expansion reflects the growing interest in UNIFE and the collective efforts to strengthen the European railway supply chain.
