Air France-KLM: important announcements on senior management positions

Yesterday, the Air France-KLM Group made important announcements regarding senior management positions at the company. Benjamin Smith will continue as CEO for an additional five years, while Marjan Rintel will become the new CEO of KLM as of July 1st 2022.

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The company’s Board of Directors decided to renew Benjamin Smith’s term in advance and until May 2027, when the company’s financial review meeting is scheduled.

In addition, the Board approved the Air France-KLM Supervisory Board’s proposal to appoint Marjan Rintel as CEO of KLM to replace Pieter Elbers. Last January, it had already decided that the executive would not continue in the position he has held since 2014.

Rintel will return to KLM after serving as President of Dutch Railways. Prior to that, she worked for fifteen years in various positions in marketing, sales and operations at the airline. The appointment has yet to be confirmed by the shareholders, who will hold a special meeting for this purpose.

According to the company, both decisions are related to the need for a strong management team in a still complex market environment, with new challenges ahead. The objective, they say, is to regain the leading position in the European airline market.

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According to Anne-Marie Couderc, Chair of Air France-KLM Board of Director, «these two decisions by the Board of Directors stabilize the governance of the Group at a key moment in its history».

She said Smith that «has demonstrated his unwavering commitment and professionalism over the past three and a half years, which justifies the Board’s total support for his continued leadership of the Group for another five years».

Commenting on Rintel’s appointment as CEO of the Netherlands’ leading airline, she said: «Her extensive experience at KLM and of the Dutch transport industry makes her the best person to lead the company».