Martin Sion, former head of ArianeGroup, takes over at Alstom
If the rail manufacturer is overwhelmed with orders, it must improve the industrial execution of its contracts. Especially as competition is becoming fiercer.
His mission: to make Alstom take off. Martin Sion, the former CEO of ArianeGroup, the space launch manufacturer owned by Airbus and Safran, is indeed taking the reins this Wednesday, April 1st, of the French railway group, which has been struggling for several years to fulfill its countless contracts. The new CEO will work to reorganize the global number two player’s operations. “Martin Sion’s industrial profile is reassuring,” says Arnaud Aymé, mobility expert at the consulting firm Sia. “He comes from a sector known for its industrial rigor and management of complex programs.” Serious assets considering the necessary turnaround of the group.
Martin Sion’s arrival, announced in October 2025, is no coincidence. The executive replaces Henri Poupart-Lafarge, who has been at the helm of Alstom for nearly ten years. Certainly, under his leadership, Alstom has become a global champion, just behind the Chinese giant CRRC benefiting from its huge local market, particularly thanks to the acquisition of the Canadian company Bombardier in 2021. Some even regret that the group does not have the same level of reputation as Airbus, despite its position.
Alstom thus overtakes the German Siemens, the Japanese Hitachi, and the Spanish ACF, among others. Its turnover has tripled since 2014, going from 8 billion euros in 2019 to over 18 billion euros in 2025. Its order book? It has exploded due to multiple commercial successes worldwide: with around 20 billion euros in contracts each year, it reached 94.5 billion euros for the 2024/2025 financial year.
Years of tumultuous growth
“However, turning this amount into profits remains to be done,” hints a source close to the industry. Behind this rapid growth, Alstom displays a certain financial fragility, highlighted by its exit from the CAC 40 in 2024. This led to the downfall of Henri Poupart-Lafarge, despite his impressive commercial track record.
