Zbigniew Prus Appointed Chairman of PKP Cargo as Restructuring Continues

Poland’s largest rail freight operator has named a new leader at a critical moment. From February 2026, Zbigniew Prus will take over as Chairman of the Management Board of PKP Cargo, tasked with steering the company through the next phase of court-supervised restructuring.

Following a competitive selection process, the Supervisory Board of PKP Cargo appointed Zbigniew Prus as Chairman of the Management Board with effect from today, 2 February 2026. Prus brings more than 30 years of experience in rail freight, all of it gained within the structures of Poland’s national rail freight operator, where he has held a wide range of technical, managerial, and senior executive roles.

According to PKP Cargo, Prus’s key strengths lie in the implementation of corrective and development measures aimed at improving financial performance and operational efficiency. During his career in state-owned entities, he has been closely involved in multiple restructuring and optimisation processes, building deep expertise in rolling stock operation and maintenance, the introduction of modern operating programmes, and the streamlining of transport procedures.

Zbigniew Prus od 2 lutego 2026 roku obejmie stanowisko prezesa #PKPCargo, największego polskiego przewoźnika kolejowego@se_pl //t.co/Ko0hfC7rmb#firma#biznes

— superbiz.pl (@SuperbizPL) January 29, 2026

From PKP Cargo Service to Group Leadership

Prus joins the top of the group from PKP Cargo Service, a subsidiary he most recently led and where he had already contributed to the broader restructuring of the group as Plenipotentiary of the Management Board for operational matters. Prior to that, he served as Plenipotentiary for rolling stock management, Director of Transport Management between 2017 and 2021, and Member of the Management Board responsible for operations from 2021 to 2024.

He is also well known in the Czech Republic, having served in 2024 as Chairman of the Management Board of PKP Cargo International, the Ostrava-based subsidiary responsible for the group’s foreign market operations and expansion. Under his leadership at PKP Cargo Service, the subsidiary largely avoided the spillover effects of the parent company’s difficulties. In 2024, revenues remained broadly stable year-on-year at EUR 31.4 million (PLN 132.2 million), while profitability improved, with EBITDA reaching 13%.

A Career Railwayman with Strong Internal Credibility

Prus is widely described as a "railwayman from the ground up." He began his career as a locomotive driver and technician and gradually worked his way into senior management. This background has earned him strong credibility among employees and colleagues, a factor seen as particularly important as PKP Cargo navigates a difficult restructuring period.

He graduated in technical disciplines from the Faculty of Transport at the Radom University of Technology and completed an MBA in 2008 through the Gdańsk Foundation for Management Development and the University of Business in Dąbrowa Górnicza. He has continuously expanded his qualifications in rail transport and management and holds multiple professional certificates in finance, strategy, leadership, and crisis negotiation. His career has also been recognised with honours, including Merit for Railway Transport and the Silver Medal for Long Service.

Continuity in Restructuring and International Ambitions

Prus is expected to continue the restructuring initiated by his predecessor Agnieszka Wasilewska-Semail, who resigned from her position as Chairwoman in December 2025 under circumstances that have not been publicly clarified. At the same time, continued support for the international expansion of PKP Cargo International is anticipated, a strategy Prus himself previously oversaw and which is now led by Łukasz Henryk Grzesło.

The Supervisory Board of PKP Cargo S.A. in restructuring launched the recruitment process for the Chairman position on 30 December 2025, with applications closing on 19 January 2026. PKP Cargo is listed on the Warsaw Stock Exchange, with the Polish state holding approximately 30% of shares but retaining decisive influence over key appointments.

While Prus’s appointment has been largely welcomed by Polish media and industry commentators, it has not yet been reflected in PKP Cargo’s share price performance on the Warsaw Stock Exchange.