The people behind the wheel: Brieuc de Meeûs’ story, STIB-MIVB

Can you tell us about your role at STIB-MIVB?

I have been leading STIB-MIVB, the company in charge of the public transport services in the Brussels region, since 2012. Currently, STIB stands as the largest employer of the region, offering very attractive public transport (PT) solutions, including the Mobility-as-a-Service (MaaS) platform named FLOYA, which serves more than 1.3 million users per day.

What inspired you to seek a career in the transport industry?

Throughout my career, I have frequently worked, either directly or indirectly, for the transport industry. First, as a student, I worked for several years on night trains, accompanying travellers in sleeping cars all across Europe.

In the early 2000s, when I was leading Alstom Systems and Services in Charleroi (later becoming Cegelec), our teams were already engaged in the development of on-board safety-based software for high-speed trains, like the TGV. Later, I became the CEO of Flightcare, the biggest handling company at Brussels Airport, working for over eight years for the fascinating aviation industry.

These two experiences were the perfect launch pad to join STIB-MIVB.

Have you experienced any challenges in your role and, if yes, how have you overcome them?

While we face plenty of challenges at STIB-MIVB, the biggest one that we have to address is the exceptional growth of the company, supported by a €6 billion investment spanning over 10 years. This is a real revolution in the organisation, and we have to shape it to be able to realise these huge number of investments, while the day-to-day service must be rendered without impact on its level. This is really challenging, because all modes are impacted.

For the metro, we are launching new lines, modernising the old ones, changing the signalisation systems to CBTC, while also introducing new rolling stock. In the case of trams (we have one of the oldest networks in Europe, over 150 years old), we are also launching new lines, acquiring rolling stock and building new depots. Finally, for buses, we have started the full transition of our fleet to fully electric buses, buying new buses, building and converting depots. This huge investment challenge also has an essential aspect related to human resources: we must recruit new people, from drivers to highly qualified profiles, and motivate the whole organisation to reach the objectives that we have set.

Even if this represents the biggest challenge for the company in 20 years, it makes the situation extremely exciting and motivating for the whole team.

Has a career in transport changed your perception of the industry as a whole?

My career in the transport sector has been a very exciting chapter of my professional life. I have also spent a lot of time in other sectors. In all of my different jobs, I’ve consistently been able to say that I have had the privilege of holding the most beautiful job in the most beautiful company. This mindset should be the guiding principle for people in their professional lives. If they do not experience this sense of fulfilment, it may be worth considering moving.

Credit: STIB-MIVB

What would be the top three highlights of your career in the industry to date?

As I just said above, I’ve always been lucky to be able to say that I have the most beautiful job, in the most beautiful company. This being said, during my time at Flightcare, what we were able to achieve with the teams at the airport was amazing; we had transformed an operational activity – the handling – from the former Belgian airline company Sabena into a very profitable and dependable company. At STIB-MIVB, as well, we are building a very strong company ready to face the challenges of the future.

Where do you see yourself in five years’ time?

Officially, in five years’ time, I will be retired. But I still want to be active, although I do not know where yet…

What key pieces of advice would you give to someone who is interested in a career in transport?

Transport is a fascinating sector, much broader than what we would think. It is a 360-degree business, where all disciplines can be discovered – engineering, people management, legal aspects, development, public affairs, etc.

And, much more important than this, what you deliver is an essential service to people. You have a very important role in their lives, participating in the prosperity of the city and the region.

In the future, what do you hope to see become more commonplace in the transport industry workforce?

My ultimate hope is that we will never have to repeatedly tell our staff and colleagues that the essence of our business and the future of the company itself lies on a few words: we serve clients every day.

In an ideal world, what do you hope the future of public transport will look like?

In an ideal world, I hope that public transport will be seen as a core service to cities and regions, contributing to their prosperity, and delivered by people fully motivated to serve millions of passengers and clients every day.