Air France-KLM Appoints Former Air Canada COO Benjamin Smith as CEO

Air France-KLM announced the appointment of Benjamin Smith, Air Canada’s chief operating officer and president, to the position of Chief Executive Officer.

Mr. Smith, who will assume the position no later than September 30, 2018, is charged with revitalizing Air France and providing “a new strategic impulse” to the company.

“Benjamin is a world-renowned leader in the airline sector who successfully transformed Air Canada,” said Anne-Marie Couderc, the non-executive chairman of Air France-KLM and of Air France.

Air Canada separately announced Mr. Smith’s resignation, effective August 31, 2018.

“I am well aware of the competitive challenges the Air France-KLM Group is facing and I am convinced that the airlines’ teams have all the strengths to succeed,” said Mr. Smith in a statement.

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