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SNCF Chief Jean‑Pierre Farandou Named France’s Labour Minister, Becomes No. 2 in Lecornu II Cabinet

The veteran rail executive is tapped for his experience managing labor relations.

Jean-Pierre Farandou.
Jean-Pierre Farandou à Saint-Denis (Seine-Saint-Denis), le 7 décembre 2021.
Jean-Pierre Farandou ancien atron de la SNCF.
Jean-Pierre Farandou le 25 septembre 2024 à Strasbourg

Overview

  • Farandou, 68, was appointed Labour Minister on October 12 and is presented as the second‑ranking member of the new Lecornu government.
  • He has led SNCF since 2019 after running Keolis from 2012 to 2019, following a career at the rail group that began in 1981.
  • Under his tenure, SNCF reported profits of €2.4 billion in 2022 and €1.3 billion in 2023, bolstering its investment capacity.
  • He was due to leave SNCF in spring 2024 because of an age limit, with Jean Castex previously announced by President Emmanuel Macron as his successor pending government formation.
  • The appointment puts the long‑delayed SNCF leadership handover back on the agenda, as Farandou’s track record in tough union talks is cited as a key asset for the Labour portfolio.