KLM's Bas Brouns to succeed Erik Swelheim as CFO
Erik Swelheim (left) and Bas Brouns
KLM has announced plans to appoint Bas Brouns as Chief Financial Officer (CFO) and Managing Director of KLM, effective April 24, 2024. He succeeds Erik Swelheim, who will step down at the 2024 shareholders’ meeting at the end of his current term, after 12 years as KLM’s CFO.
Swelheim, current CFO, said, “I am immensely proud of what we have achieved together over all these years and how we, as a team, came through the very difficult period of the Covid pandemic. There is a strong financial team in place and KLM has largely recovered financially. I am delighted that my successor comes from our own team. I have worked with Bas for many years and am confident that he will do a fantastic job.”
Brouns is currently Senior Vice President Corporate Controller at KLM. He has worked at KLM for nearly 27 years in various financial positions.
“We are very pleased to be able to nominate someone from KLM to this important post on the Executive Committee. Bas is a highly experienced and passionate professional who has led both Finance & Treasury and Controlling at KLM. I warmly congratulate him on this nomination and wish him all the very best in his new role. I would like to thank Erik for his three terms as CFO. He has played a vital role on the KLM Executive Committee and has impressively shaped KLM’s financial strategy,” said Cees 't Hart, chairman of the KLM Supervisory Board.
KLM said that its Works Council has positively advised on the nomination of Bas. Assuming shareholder approval on April 24, 2024, KLM’s Managing Board will consist of CEO Marjan Rintel, CFO Brouns, COO Maarten Stienen, CPO Miriam Kartman and CXO Barry ter Voert.
“On behalf of all our colleagues at KLM, I would like to thank Erik wholeheartedly for the enormous commitment he has shown throughout his 20 years of service to our company. As CFO, Erik played a critical role on our Executive Committee facing numerous major developments that affected KLM and aviation in general, with the Covid crisis being perhaps the most far-reaching. KLM is back on its feet, thanks in part to Erik’s hard work and dedication. I wish him all the best for the future. In Bas, we have found a worthy successor. I look forward to working with him and the broad knowledge and experience of KLM that he brings,” said Rintel.
