Spanish Government Appoints Álvaro Fernández Heredia as New Renfe President, Succeeding Raül Blanco

Jan 14, 2025, 09:59 AM

The Spanish government has appointed Álvaro Fernández Heredia as the new president of Renfe, the national railway operator. Heredia, who was previously the Secretary General of Sustainable Mobility, succeeds Raül Blanco, who resigned citing personal reasons. The appointment was confirmed by the Council of Ministers and proposed by Transport Minister Óscar Puente. Heredia's appointment comes at a time when Renfe is facing operational challenges, including issues with new Talgo trains and ongoing station renovations. Additionally, Heredia is tasked with advancing Renfe's internationalization efforts, particularly in France, where the company aims to expand its services. Heredia brings over 20 years of experience in the mobility and transport sector, having held various positions in consultancy, research, and public administration. Sara Hernández del Olmo has been appointed as the new Secretary General of Sustainable Mobility. Under Raül Blanco's leadership, Renfe saw an 83% reduction in losses to 20 million euros and a 28% growth in ebitda to 450 million euros.