Michael Horodniceanu, Professor and IDC Innovation Hub Chair in Design and Construction at the NYU Tandon School of Engineering, will serve on Swisspod's U.S. Board of Directors. The former NYC Traffic Commissioner, President of MTA Capital Construction and MTA Engineer-in-Chief will strengthen his involvement with the company following his prior role as a Strategic Advisor.
Michael Horodniceanu first joined Swisspod as a member of the Advisory Board in February 2021, shortly after the company opened its first overseas office in the U.S, at the beginning of this year. Since then, he has been actively upholding the organization's vision of shaping the future of sustainable high-speed transportation. He also played a fundamental role in formulating Swisspod’s corporate and go-to-market strategy and consulting the management team on complex business matters, including the standards and regulations of the US Department of Transportation (DOT), and political lobbying.
As a new Director, Michael Horodniceanu will further consolidate Swisspod's presence in the U.S., reinforcing the company's international expansion strategy. His leadership appointment follows Swisspod's recent launch of the first operational testing facility in Europe. An important step forward for both the company and for commercializing and deploying scalable Hyperloop systems, this milestone is consistent with Michael Horodniceanu's aim of driving innovation, upscaling investments, and accelerating technological progress within the transportation industry.
“I am very excited to join the Board of Swisspod, one of the most advanced technology companies in the area of transportation. Through its work, Swisspod will contribute significantly to improving the transportation of people and goods in the 21st century and I look forward to contributing to its success", Michael Horodniceanu states.
"Having Michael on Swsisspod's Board of Directors is both an honor and a vote of trust for our company and our mission. With an impressive track record in the transportation industry and being a trailblazer in its field, he will take the lead over our political and business level operations in the U.S., accelerating our go-to-market strategy", Denis Tudor, Swisspod's CEO, said.
With over 40 years of governmental, professional, and academic experience in the transportation and civil engineering industries, Michael Horodniceanu has dedicated his career and expertise to solve complex challenges facing metropolitan transport in rapidly growing areas worldwide. In addition to joining Swisspod's Board of Directors, he serves as the inaugural Chair of the IDC Innovation Hub and Professor at NYU Tandon School of Engineering, within the Department of Civil and Urban Engineering.
An internationally renowned leader, Michael Horodniceanu played a pivotal role in the success of several major U.S. transportation projects. As the President of MTA Capital Construction, between 2008 - 2017, he was responsible for New York City's largest public transit system program — the completion of the East Side Access, Second Avenue Subway, No. 7 Line Extension, and the Fulton Transit Center — with a construction value of $25 billion. Michael Horodniceanu also led the reconstruction of the roadway infrastructure throughout New York City, from his former role as NYC Traffic Commissioner, between 1986 - 1998.