19
February
2019
|
17:47
Europe/Amsterdam

Pieter Elbers reappointed as president and CEO of KLM

Summary

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.

  • IMPROVED AND SIMPLIFIED AIR FRANCE-KLM GOVERNANCE
  • PIETER ELBERS APPOINTED AS AIR FRANCE-KLM DEPUTY CEO
  • BEN SMITH JOINS SUPERVISORY BOARD KLM
  • CEES ‘T HART JOINS AIR FRANCE-KLM BOARD OF DIRECTORS
The KLM Supervisory Board earlier already unanimously supported Pieter Elbers’ reappointment as did KLM’s Works Council. The Board is happy that the reappointment may now also count on the positive vote of our main shareholder, AIR FRANCE-KLM. Under Pieter’s leadership, KLM has made tremendous progress during the past 4 years. With Pieter Elbers at the helm of KLM for the next 4 years, KLM is ready for its future, and committed to contribute to the success of AIR FRANCE-KLM.
Hans Smits - Chairman of the KLM Supervisory Board
The journey we have made within KLM over the past 4 years, has been both exciting and rewarding. I am proud and deeply thankful to all my colleagues in the company for being so aligned and supportive in this wonderful journey. Today, in the year of our 100th anniversary, we are a fit, thriving and healthy company once again. Our 2018 results are a testimony to this! I sincerely thank the respective Boards of KLM and AIR FRANCE-KLM for placing their trust and confidence in me with my reappointment. I look forward to serving KLM for the next 4 years as CEO.
KLM President & CEO Pieter Elbers

Improved and simplified AIR FRANCE-KLM governance

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.

https://www.airfranceklm.com/en/news/air-france-klm-improve-governance-and-simplify-structure