The AIR FRANCE-KLM Board of Directors voted in favor of the reappointment of Pieter Elbers as President and CEO of KLM. KLM CEO Pieter Elbers’ reappointment will be proposed to the KLM Annual General Meeting of Shareholders of April 2019. Ben Smith will be proposed for appointment to the KLM Supervisory Board as per that same AGM. Cees ‘t Hart will be proposed for appointment to the AIR FRANCE-KLM Board of Directors.
A new Group CEO Committee will be created to determine the strategic direction for all Group airlines and business units. This CEO committee will be chaired by Ben Smith. The other members of the committee include Pieter Elbers, Anne Rigail (CEO Air France) and Frederic Gagey (CFO Air France-KLM). The three of them will operate in the CEO committee under the leadership of Ben Smith. Both Pieter Elbers and Anne Rigail are appointed Air France-KLM Deputy CEO and have expressed their commitment to build the Group’s success alongside Ben Smith.
Ben Smith has presented a cohesive plan to the AIR FRANCE-KLM Board to reach European Airline leadership, which plan has been endorsed by the Board. The CEO committee will work to increase collaboration across the Group to better capture synergies. The new Group management governance does not entail any changes in organization structures or any changes to existing agreements, commitments, or bylaws of companies involved.
Ben Smith, CEO of AIR FRANCE-KLM, will be proposed by the KLM Supervisory Board to be appointed as member of the KLM Supervisory Board as per the Annual General Meeting of Shareholders of KLM in April 2019.
Cees ‘t Hart will be proposed for appointment to the AIR FRANCE-KLM Board of Directors as per AIR FRANCE-KLM’s AGM in May 2019, succeeding Hans Smits.
