Gerard Frances Named GM Commuter Services in Boston for Keolis

Gerald C. Francis has been named the general manager of its Keolis Commuter Services unit in Boston, the operator of the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority’s commuter rail network since July 1, 2014.

He replaces Tom Mulligan, who resigned earlier this week. Franck Dubourdieu was named deputy general manager. He previously served as director of Quality Assurance and Performance Improvement for Keolis Commuter Services.

“This has been a very challenging time for the commuter rail system, our passengers, and for the Keolis team because we have not been able to provide the quality of service the people of this region have a right to demand,” said Eric Asselin, executive vice president and general manager of Keolis North America.

Francis has served in executive leadership positions for major transit systems throughout his career, which began at Union Pacific. He came to Keolis from TASI – Caltrain, where he served as general manager for Herzog Transit Services. Prior to that, he served as deputy general manager for the Washington Metropolitan Transit Authority in Washington, DC, managing a $1.1 billion operating budget.

Francis joined Keolis in January 2014 as deputy general manager, and led the Keolis mobilization effort in an acting capacity.

Dubourdieu has more than 20 years of experience working on a variety of passenger railroad operations, including as commercial director for Eurostar, the high speed train system that operates between Paris and London. He comes to Keolis from SNCF (France’s national railroad), where he most recently served as deputy general manager for the South East Paris commuter rail line, which transports 600,000 passengers daily.

Category: Mass Transit, People