Alstom appoints Xavier Boisgontier as Managing Director Southern Africa Cluster
Alstom appoints Xavier Boisgontier as Managing Director Southern Africa Cluster
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Alstom announces the appointment of Xavier Boisgontier as Managing Director Southern Africa Cluster with effect from 1 September 2017.
Xavier has worked for Alstom since 1998. He has extensive experience across the rail industry in South America, and also in Europe and the Far East. He was in charge of several functions within Alstom as Business Developer, Sales & Marketing Director for Argentina / Chile / Peru in 2004, BD & Sales Director for South East Europe in 2007, Vice President Business Development Latin America in 2009 and Managing Director North Latin America since 2014.For this new function in South Africa, Xavier will be based in Johannesburg.
I am very excited about this opportunity to lead our Southern Africa operations. A few years back, Alstom has won a giant contract for the production of 600 suburban trains here. We are now setting up the plant that will manufacture the trains. This is a real opportunity to develop the railway industry here. The project will boost the countrys economy as it creates jobs, develops new skills, prioritises local economic development and local content and promotes black economic empowerment. said Xavier Boisgontier.
Alstom is a long-term key partner engaged in Southern Africa to contribute to the rail industry revitalization, providing transport solutions adapted to local needs and contributing to local economy through localization of its activities. Alstoms strategy is illustrated by investments and acquisitions done in the country. Alstom is the majority shareholder of two major joint-ventures in SouthAfrica: Gibela (61%) and Alstom Ubunye (51%). The construction of Gibelas manufacturing facility in Dunnottar is well underway and due to be completed by the end of 2017.
Alstom Ubunye is becoming a solid industrial, technical & commercial base with a full range of rail products & solutions to serve South and Southern Africa mobility needs but also the export market. South Africa could thus become a real railway leader for the whole African continent.