A graduate of Télécom Paris Tech, Olivier Bancel joined SNCF in 1993 as Project Manager in the Research Department, before holding mainly operational roles in network maintenance on high-speed lines and in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region. He later became Project Manager for the Haut-Bugey line, then Regional Infrastructure Director for the South Region and Network Maintenance Director for the South-East area. 

From 2016 to 2018, Olivier Bancel led the development of Asset Management and Digital operations at SNCF Group subsidiary Systra, before joining SNCF Réseau as Deputy Managing Director for Operations and Production. In 2022, he took charge of all operational teams as Executive Director of Projects, Maintenance and Operations. He was appointed Deputy Managing Director, Customers and Operations, in 2025.