Alstom has confirmed the appointment of Kees van der Snel as its new Country Managing Director Netherlands, effective 1 March 2026 — a move that brings a seasoned industry leader back into a pivotal European role at a time of significant change across the continent’s rail sector.
With 32 years of international experience, including seven years at Alstom and eight at Bombardier, van der Snel has held senior positions across engineering, operations, project and product management, sales, and tendering. His background includes leadership roles in multiple countries, giving him a strong foundation to guide Alstom’s growing Dutch business.
In his new role, he will be responsible for leading and further developing Alstom’s activities in the Netherlands, a market increasingly focused on fleet modernisation, sustainability, and capacity enhancement — themes that will resonate strongly with UK rail professionals observing European developments.
Kees van der Snel said:
“I am honoured to take on the role of Country Managing Director Netherlands. With more than three decades of experience across the rail and industrial sectors, I am confident that I can contribute to strengthening Alstom’s position in the Dutch market. I look forward to working closely with our teams, customers, and partners to drive successful project delivery and support the country’s growing mobility needs.”
Andrew DeLeone, Alstom’s Europe Region President, highlighted the strategic significance of the appointment, adding:
“We are delighted to appoint Kees to lead our activities in the Netherlands. His broad operational and strategic experience, combined with his deep knowledge of the rail industry, makes him the right person to guide our organisation forward. The Netherlands remains a highly promising market with significant growth potential, and I am confident that under Kees’s leadership, Alstom will continue to strengthen its performance and long-term presence in the country.”
For UK rail teams, this appointment will be seen as further evidence of Alstom’s focus on strengthening its European footprint and leadership capability — particularly as major programmes, including fleet upgrades and digital signalling, continue to accelerate across the region.
Image credit: Alstom
