The joint venture RB Rail AS, responsible for implementing the Rail Baltica global project, announces changes in its Management Board. Effective 1 September 2025, the Board will be composed of five members: Marko Kivila (Chairperson and Chief Executive Office), Marius Narmontas (Chief Operating Officer), Emilien Dang (Chief Technical Officer), Thierry Boussillon (Chief Programme Management Officer), and Ojārs Daugavietis, who joins as Chief Financial Officer. The Management Board provides strategic leadership and ensures the coordinated delivery of the Rail Baltica project across the three Baltic States.
According to Arenijus Jackus, Chairperson of the RB Rail’s Supervisory Board, the Rail Baltica project and the joint venture have faced notable transformation over the past two years considering external challenges and new geopolitical and economic realities. This has required adjustments to project planning, optimisation of solutions and implementation steps, optimization of the joint venture and the whole project management set-up as well as stronger risk and stakeholder management.
“The aim remains unchanged – to build the missing link of European standard gauge infrastructure in our region, connecting it with Europe. For a joint venture that is equally owned by the three Baltic states, stable management is essential. Therefore, the term of the Management Board has been extended for five years, aligning with the timeline of the project’s first implementation phase,” emphasised Arenijus Jackus.
Speaking on behalf of the Management Board, Marko Kivila, Chairperson and Chief Executive Officer of RB Rail, added: “I would like to thank the Supervisory Board for its trust, which reflects the strong commitment of the three shareholder states. Focus, timely decision-making, and transparency, including in complex matters, are crucial for the success of Rail Baltica. This approach helps advance project delivery and strengthens our coordination role, which remains the primary task of the joint venture.”
About the new Management Board member, Chief Financial Officer Ojārs Daugavietis
Ojārs Daugavietis brings more than 15 years of experience in EU funding, corporate finance, and strategic financial management to the RB Rail AS Management Board. Until now he has served as Head of Finance and Economics at RB Rail AS, where he was responsible for the financial strategy and management. His career includes senior positions at the Ministry of Finance of Latvia and extensive work in international project finance, with a focus on financial governance, risk management, and regulatory compliance. He is also pursuing an Executive MBA at Riga Business School.
“Rail Baltica’s financing has so far largely relied on European Union grants from the Connecting Europe Facility (CEF) and has been attracted to the region in unprecedented amounts. Going forward, it will be essential to continue close cooperation not only with the governments of the Baltic States but also with EU institutions to secure the necessary funding for this strategically important cross-border infrastructure in the next multiannual financial framework. At the same time, it will be important to consider the evolving economic and geopolitical context and carefully evaluate complementary financial instruments alongside EU support,” said Ojārs Daugavietis.
In 2025, Rail Baltica entered the full construction phase, with mainline works progressing in all three Baltic states. By the end of the year, 43% of the mainline is expected to be construction-ready and moving forward.