Brightline Holdings LLC has announced a series of leadership appointments as the company prepares for its next stage of development across its passenger rail operations in the US
Nicolas Petrovic has been appointed Chief Executive Officer (CEO), effective January 2026. He succeeds Michael Reininger, who previously led the company between 2012 and 2018 and again from 2021. Petrovic will be based in Miami and will oversee Brightline’s Florida operations, with a mandate to support long-term growth while maintaining existing operational standards.
Nicolas Petrovic
© Brightline
Petrovic brings more than 25 years of experience in the international rail and transportation sector. He joined Eurostar in 2003 and held senior operational roles before becoming chief executive in 2010, a position he held until 2018. During his tenure, Eurostar undertook fleet upgrades, expanded services to the Netherlands and operated within a complex regulatory environment across multiple countries.
After leaving Eurostar, Petrovic served as chief executive of Siemens France from 2018 to 2021, overseeing mobility, infrastructure and digital industries. He later became CEO of Etihad Rail Mobility in the United Arab Emirates, the organisation responsible for developing and operating the country’s national railway network.
In recognition of his contributions to the transportation sector, Petrovic has been appointed a Chevalier de la Légion d’Honneur, France’s highest civilian award.
Petrovic said:
Brightline has introduced new and elevated expectations for the passenger rail industry in America, and it is an honor to lead the company’s next stage of growth. With the tools and experiences from a global peer group, I believe Brightline will continue to show the way forward for profitability and customer experience that will firmly position the business in America’s transportation landscape.
Reininger will continue with the business in a new role as managing director and board member of Brightline West. In this position, he will focus on the development of the Brightline West high-speed rail project, which aims to connect Southern California and Las Vegas. Patrick Goddard and Sarah Watterson will remain in their current leadership roles at Brightline Florida and Brightline West respectively.
As managing director of Brightline West, Reininger will concentrate on delivering the 21 billion USD project, which represents a major private investment in US rail infrastructure. He said the move would allow him to focus fully on the project’s execution.
Reininger said:
I’m energised to devote all my time and attention to Brightline West, one of the nation’s biggest privately led infrastructure investments. This is exactly the kind of bold project our country needs, and I’m confident we’ll set a new standard for how major rail projects are executed in the United States.
Brightline Holdings also announced changes to its finance leadership. Mauricio Anderson has been appointed chief financial officer of Brightline Holdings and its subsidiaries, excluding Brightline West. Anderson replaces Jeff Swiatek, who left the company earlier this month. Anderson has worked at Florida East Coast Industries, one of Brightline’s indirect parent companies, since 2013 and has served as its CFO since 2019.
In addition, Bruce Snyder has been promoted from deputy CFO to CFO of Brightline West.
Wes Edens, founder of Brightline Holdings said:
We are excited about the future of Brightline, and these moves will align our executive leadership with the specific needs to support both of our businesses. As Brightline continues to pioneer a new era in American transportation, the insights that Nicolas brings from around the globe will strengthen our operating company as it continues to grow and expand, while Mike concentrates his focus once again on implementing an unprecedented infrastructure development.