MIAMI — Nicolas Petrovic has been named CEO of Brightline Holdings’ Florida operation, effective today (Wednesday, Jan. 14).
Petrovic was CEO of Eurostar from 2010 through 2018 after a four-year stint when he was responsible for all aspects of train operations, safety, and service delivery on the high-speed European network linking London, Paris, Brussels, and Amsterdam. Petrovic then joined Siemens France through 2021, and was most recently CEO of Etihad Rail Mobility, the developer and operator of United Arab Emirates’ national railway network.
Petrovic assumes the CEO slot of Michael Reininger, who will now devote full attention to the Brightline West high-speed operation as managing director and member of its board of directors. Reininger was tapped by Fortress Investment Group Chairman Wes Edens to lead the Brightline Holdings parent company from 2012 to 2018 and again from 2021 until now. He had been overseeing both the maturing Florida operation and development of the $21 billion project for 186-mph rail service to link Las Vegas and Rancho Cucamonga, Calif.
“These moves will align our executive leadership with the specific needs to support both of our businesses,” Edens said in a press release. “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.”
Brightline President Patrick Goddard and Brightline West President Sarah Watterson will continue in their roles, but Brightline Holdings installed a new chief financial officer, Mauricio Anderson, replacing Jeff Swiatek. Anderson has been with Brightline parent Florida East Coast Industries, LLC, since 2013, serving as CFO since 2019. FECI no longer includes the Florida East Coast Railway, which was spun off to Grupo Mexico in 2017.
“It is an honor to lead the company’s next stage of growth,” Petrovic said. “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.”
Petrovic comes on board as Brightline has shown ridership and revenue gains following operational changes made last October, but faces questions from bondholders over its ability to finance operations. [See “Brightline confronts cash crunch …,” Trains.com, Jan 12, 2026]. A significant interest payment is due Thursday, Jan. 15, which the company is expected to finance internally.
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No matter how good this new person is the chaos of a change in leadership may happen. We will see the results in the next few months.