The mandate of the 54 years old Hungarian professional encompasses the furthering of the ambitious international growth strategy of the group and the completion of the integration of Rail Cargo Hungaria. On 15 February 2019, he takes Erik Regter’s place in the Board.
Along with the appointment of Imre Kovács other important personnel decisions were made. Arnold Schiefer, former member of the Board of Directors of Rail Cargo Hungaria, is leaving his seat as Chairman of the Supervisory Board of ÖBB (Austrian Federal Railways) and will take the role as Chief Financial Officer of the corporation, previously filled by Josef Halbmayr. Further changes took place at the head of ÖBB-Technische Services GmbH and ÖBB-Infrastruktur. The decisions were welcomed by Norbert Hofer, the Minister of Transport, Innovation and Technology of Austria, who emphasised that “the company successfully appointed experienced professionals to fill important positions”. In appreciation of the appointments Andreas Matthä, CEO of ÖBB, stated: “the new board structure strengthens further the strategy of Rail Cargo Group of being a modern, multinational rail logistics company within ÖBB.”
Since 2003, Imre Kovács has filled key positions of the dominant Hungarian rail freight company. He organised the freight branch of MÁV and also managed it until the establishment of MÁV Cargo. The privatisation of the new company was one of the most successful ones in Hungary. Since 2009 he was the first manager of MÁV Cargo and following a name-change in 2010, of Rail Cargo Hungaria. In 2011 he became CEO and Chairman of the Board of Directors of the company. The expert having an academic degree in research of international rail processes has established the company’s own traction capacity, and under his leadership the effective organisation in Budapest became able to take the leading role in the expansion of the group in Eastern and South-East Europe.