Marjan Rintel nominated for second four-year term as President and CEO as KLM advances structural transformation and leadership changes
(IN SHORT) Air France-KLM’s Board of Directors has approved the nomination of Marjan Rintel for a second four-year term as President and CEO of KLM Royal Dutch Airlines following a recommendation from KLM’s Supervisory Board and Group CEO Benjamin Smith, with the Works Council now being consulted ahead of a final decision at the shareholders’ meeting. Rintel’s renewed mandate will prioritize accelerating KLM’s structural transformation to strengthen its operational reliability, financial foundation, and governance, with the Management Board taking a more direct role in daily operations. Both Wiebe Draijer and Benjamin Smith expressed strong confidence in her leadership, while KLM also announced that current COO Maarten Stienen will step down in May 2026, prompting a search for a successor, and Rintel and Stienen both reflected positively on his long and impactful career with the airline.
(PRESS RELEASE) AMSTELVEEN, 2026-Feb-2 — /Travel PR News/ — Air France-KLM has endorsed the proposed reappointment of Marjan Rintel as President and Chief Executive Officer of KLM Royal Dutch Airlines for an additional four-year term. The decision was approved today by the Air France-KLM Board of Directors following a recommendation from KLM’s Supervisory Board and Group CEO Benjamin Smith. As part of the formal process, KLM’s Supervisory Board has notified the Works Council of the intended renewal and will now seek its advisory opinion, with final confirmation expected at the upcoming KLM shareholders’ meeting.
As she embarks on a second term, Marjan Rintel’s immediate focus will be on intensifying KLM’s transformation agenda, which is designed to reinforce the airline’s operational resilience and financial stability on a structural basis. To support this objective, KLM plans to adjust elements of its organizational structure and governance framework to ensure the company is better equipped for long-term success in a rapidly evolving aviation landscape. The KLM Board of Management, in close collaboration with leaders of the airline’s major operational divisions, will take a more hands-on role in day-to-day operational oversight, with the aim of improving reliability, consistency, and predictability for both customers and employees.
Wiebe Draijer, Chairman of the KLM Supervisory Board, emphasized the scale of the challenges ahead while expressing strong confidence in Rintel’s leadership. He noted that the Supervisory Board fully backs her efforts to drive meaningful structural improvements through significant governance changes. He also underscored his belief that, as part of the broader Air France-KLM Group and with the collective commitment of KLM’s senior leadership and workforce, the airline is well positioned to deliver the transformation needed to meet the Group’s overall financial objectives.
Benjamin Smith, CEO of Air France-KLM, reflected on Rintel’s first term, highlighting the extensive efforts made to restore KLM’s capacity in the aftermath of the Covid-19 crisis amid a difficult Dutch regulatory and cost environment. He pointed to rising taxes and external cost pressures as ongoing challenges, while acknowledging that the work to strengthen operational and financial performance will continue. Smith reaffirmed his confidence in Rintel’s determination and leadership, stating that the Group will provide increased support to KLM and pursue additional synergies to enhance performance.
Marjan Rintel acknowledged the highly competitive and complex nature of the aviation sector, stressing that success depends on maintaining a strong operational and financial foundation. She outlined plans to accelerate and deepen KLM’s transformation through structural measures aimed at simplifying the organization, optimizing operations, boosting revenue, and reducing costs. Working closely with her fellow Managing Board members, she committed to taking a more direct role in overseeing operations to better meet customer expectations and achieve sustainable financial returns.
The planned organizational changes will also affect the leadership of KLM’s operational activities, particularly the role of the Chief Operating Officer. In light of this, current COO Maarten Stienen has indicated that he will not seek a second term and will step down following the KLM shareholders’ meeting in May 2026. This development will allow KLM to begin a structured search process for a new COO, considering both internal and external candidates.
Rintel paid tribute to Stienen’s long and dedicated service, highlighting his 28-year career at KLM, during which he held a range of senior operational roles in the Netherlands and internationally. She noted his appointments as Executive Vice President of Ground Services in 2020 and later as Chief Operating Officer and member of the Managing Board in 2023, expressing deep appreciation for his contributions and wishing him well in his future endeavors.
Stienen, in turn, stated that the timing felt right for him to step aside and explore new professional opportunities. He spoke warmly of his years at KLM, thanking colleagues for their collaboration and reaffirming his lasting commitment to the company and its people as he looks ahead to the next chapter of his career.
Media contact:
E-mail: mediarelations@klm.com
