Mahindhann Krishnapillai Tapped to Head AITX Rail Europe
Written by Carolina Worrell, Senior Editor
Head of AITX Rail Europe Mahindhann Krishnapillai
American Industrial Transport, Inc. (AITX) announced May 2 that the company has tapped Mahindhann Krishnapillai as Head of AITX Rail Europe, the company’s new European railcar platform.
This new solution, AITX says, “offers European manufacturers, operating lessors, and freight shippers access to a broad and growing set of resources, expertise, and partnerships across fleet management, leasing solutions, regulatory management, and maintenance operations.” The company, AITX adds, will look to “proactively expand its portfolio and partnerships centered around and focused on customer needs within the European railcar market.”
Krishnapillai, who will be based in Paris, France, opens the AITX’s continental headquarters and will “grow the capabilities to provide the level of service and solutions customers have grown to expect from AITX,” the company stated in a release.
Krishnapillai is a European rail industry expert with more than 15 years focused operational and technical experience working across several of Europe’s rail leasing and repair leaders. Most recently, at VTG France, Krishnapillai was Operations Director overseeing the company’s fleet management and maintenance business for more than 100 European freight shipping customers. Prior to that, he was Technical Director at CIT’s full-service leasing platform, NACCO, where he grew revenue across 15,000 railcars, spanning sales, maintenance, ECM, and Safety.
Earlier in his career, Krishnapillai demonstrated a steady ramp of increased responsibility and technical prowess as Head of Wagons Management & Maintenance at DB CARGO EuroCargoRail and several roles across engineering functions. He holds an Engineering Degree in Industrial Technology from Ecole Supérieure d’Ingénieurs Paris-Est Marne-la-Vallée (ESIPE) and a technical degree from University of Paris XIII.
Bolstering the AITX Rail Europe team, industry veteran, Dan DiStefano, is supporting the Europe platform as Operating Partner. DiStefano was President at CIT’s NACCO for more than five years overseeing all rail operations and growth, where he and Krishnapillai worked together. Most recently, DiStefano has been EVP International Rail for ITE Management.
“With access to capital and in-depth rail industry expertise, we are excited to partner with European shippers to help them move goods and drive their business,” said AITX President Texas Howard.
“We see Mahindhann as the perfect leader to help us achieve our goals in Europe. Not only does he have a depth of experience and established relationships in the European rail market, his commitment to operations, technical excellence, and safety is an immediate match to our core values. We are happy to welcome Mahindhann to AITX.”
