Mr. Gilles Peterhans studied finance and economics at the University of St. Gallen in Switzerland. After he graduated, he transitioned through various field of operating positions in the railway industry and acquired extensive management experience as CEO of a rolling stock leasing company and a railway undertaking. Since January 2013, he acts as Secretary General of UIP – International Union of Wagon Keepers.

The UIP – International Union of Wagon Keepers, with its seat in Brussels, is the umbrella association of national associations from fourteen European countries, thus representing more than 250 freight wagon keepers and ECMs with more than 245’000 freight wagons, performing 50 % of the rail freight tonne-Kilometres throughout Europe. The UIP represents the members’ concerns at international level. By means of research, lobbying and focused cooperation with all stakeholders and organisations interested in rail freight transportation, the UIP wants to secure on the long term the future of rail freight transport.