The French railway network is the second largest in Europe after Germany's. With more than 14,000 trains running daily, transporting around 5 million passengers, the SNCF Group has embraced digital technology and AI for several years to improve its network, tackle the challenges of technological obsolescence, and meet European standards, ultimately optimizing the experience of travelers, train drivers, and station staff.
Earlier this month, it restructured its digital governance to strengthen AI integration across all its components. Julien Nicolas, the digital director, has been entrusted with new responsibilities, while Henri Pidault's main mission is to enhance the group's digital assets.
Julien Nicolas joined the SNCF Group in 2005. He started within the teams of Voyages-sncf.com, where he held various positions related to customer relations and digital, before climbing the ranks to become the group's digital director and president of 574 Invest, its investment fund dedicated to mobility, Industry 5.0, and new technologies, in 2021.
He retains his position at the digital direction, now renamed "Digital & AI Direction," where he ensures the deployment of the digital and AI strategy for all SNCF Group activities but is now also responsible for leading e.SNCF Solutions, the group's digital factory, previously overseen by Henri Pidault.
Meanwhile, the latter, who joined the SNCF Group in March 2017 as the director of digital performance, is entrusted with a strategic mission to enhance SNCF's digital and sovereign assets, including infrastructures, platforms, data, and core internal digital services essential to its autonomy and resilience against technological evolutions. He also succeeds Julien Nicolas as the president of the 574 Invest fund.
Both report to Marlene Dolveck, deputy CEO in charge of SNCF Group transformation. She comments on this announcement aimed at simplifying its governance:
"Digital is an indispensable lever for transforming the group, especially in the AI era! It seems essential to me to take a new step. I have full confidence in Julien Nicolas to strengthen the integration of our strategy and in Henri Pidault to enhance the group's digital and sovereign assets."