The appointments were made during the UIC’s 92nd general assembly, which was held in Madrid on July 4. “We have to shift our paradigm,” Davenne told UIC members at the assembly. “I’m truly convinced that the UIC is the right place to propose a new vision for the railways.”

Davenne will take up his new position in mid-2019 succeeding Mr Jean-Pierre Loubinoux who has been director general since 2009. In the meantime, Davenne will join the UIC as deputy director general.

Davenne has been secretary general of the Intergovernmental Organisation for International Carriage by Rail (Otif) since 2013. Prior to this he was responsible for railway safety and regulations with the French Ministry of Transport. Davenne is a graduate of the Ecole Nationale Supérieure des Télécommunications in Evry and the Ecole Nationale d’Administration.