KLM nominates Mathieu Essenberg as Chief Operating Officer
Mathieu Essenberg, Chief Operating Officer, KLM
KLM has nominated Mathieu Essenberg as its new Chief Operating Officer (COO) and a member of the airline’s statutory Managing Board.
Essenberg, who is currently serving as interim COO while also leading KLM’s Engineering & Maintenance division, will assume the role pending shareholder approval at an Extraordinary General Meeting and a positive advisory opinion from the airline’s Works Council. KLM has begun the recruitment process for a new head of Engineering & Maintenance.
“With Mathieu, we have found an excellent candidate from within our own organization for the role of COO,” said Marjan Rintel, President & CEO of KLM in the June 25 press release. “He knows the airline inside out and has proven in various divisions and roles within KLM to be a driven and inspiring leader. In addition, Mathieu knows the operation from the inside as a B-737 captain.”
Rintel added that she is confident Essenberg will help further strengthen the airline’s operations.
Essenberg joined KLM in 2002 and has held leadership roles across KLM Cityhopper, Flight Operations, Engineering & Maintenance and Hub Operations. He has also continued to fly as a pilot and has served as a 737 captain since 2017.
“I am deeply honored by this appointment,” Essenberg said. “Together with all our KLM colleagues, I want to work on the challenges ahead of us. Safety, operational reliability and an excellent experience for our passengers will always be central to this.”
Following approval, KLM’s Managing Board will consist of Rintel, Essenberg, Chief Financial Officer Bas Brouns and Chief People Officer Miriam Kartman.
