Keolis Group issued a notice on March 19 that Bernard Tabary, group chief executive officer in charge of its international business, had died unexpectedly.
The company says the loss is met with profound sadness and that thoughts of the group's management team and staff are with Tabary’s wife, children, grandson, family and friends.
"Bernard was massively appreciated by our colleagues, partners and clients with whom he worked tirelessly all around the world. Renowned for his enthusiasm for public transport and encyclopedic knowledge of the sector, Bernard was also defined by his extraordinary energy and humanity. His one-of-a-kind personality, open-mindedness and understanding of different cultures have been of immeasurable value for Keolis, where he has left a profound mark and will remain a reference for us all. Our grief is immense and our heartfelt thoughts are with Bernard’s family and loved ones," said Keolis Group Chairwoman and Chief Executive Officer Marie-Ange Debon.
In a tweet following Keolis Group’s release of information regarding Tabary’s death, Jean-Pierre Farandou, chairman and CEO of SNCF Mobilites, posted a thread in which he called Tabary a nice person who had loyal friends in all countries where Keolis was present.
The Australia France Business Association (AFBA), where Tabary served as president," posted a statement on Twitter that read, "The Australia France Business Association is immensely saddened by the passing of our longstanding President Bernard Tabary. Bernard was a wonderful and inspirational leader and will be sorely missed by us all. Our thoughts go out to his family at this difficult time."
In a 2018 interview with Mass Transit as part of InnoTrans 2018 coverage, Tabary shared insights on the passenger experience that remain as relevant today as they did nearly five years ago. He noted riders want safety, dependability and access to information.
“The sophistication of mobility on personalization is something that will suddenly make mobility more pleasant, and the piece that’s our task is to facilitate that,” he said.
Tabary’s transport career began in 1983 with the Bolloré group where he held several positions, including vice chairman of marketing, quality and information systems, managing director Australia and New Zealand and director Africa Line.
He was appointed managing director of the Environment Division of Plastic Omnium, an automotive equipment manufacturer, in 2000 and joined Keolis Group in 2005 as executive vice president in charge of Eastern France and Ile-de-France.
In 2007, Tabary was appointed managing director of Keolis Lyon, the Keolis Group's subsidiary in charge of operating and maintaining Lyon's public transport network. He was appointed Chief Executive Officer International in 2011.
In addition to the AFBA, Tabary was a member of the AREP (an SNCF subsidiary) Board of Directors and had recently been elected to the UITP International Association of Public Transport’s Board of Directors.
“Bernard’s commitment to UITP was long-standing, and the contributions he made to our association will remain with us. We will miss his impressive enthusiasm, outstanding knowledge, and his passion for growing public transport around the world. His detailed expertise led him to be a well-respected friend across the sector, and his passion for urban mobility never faded. On behalf of UITP, I would like to pay great tribute to Bernard’s incredible legacy, and to share our heartfelt condolences with his family and loved ones,” said UITP Secretary General Mohamed Mezghani.
Mischa Wanek-Libman | Group Editorial Director
Mischa Wanek-Libman is director of communications with Transdev North America. She has more than 20 years of experience working in the transportation industry covering construction projects, engineering challenges, transit and rail operations and best practices.
Wanek-Libman has held top editorial positions at freight rail and public transportation business-to-business publications including as editor-in-chief and editorial director of Mass Transit from 2018-2024. She has been recognized for editorial excellence through her individual work, as well as for collaborative content.
She is an active member of the American Public Transportation Association's Marketing and Communications Committee and served 14 years as a Board Observer on the National Railroad Construction and Maintenance Association (NRC) Board of Directors.
She is a graduate of Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa, where she earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Journalism and Mass Communication.
