India, June 27 -- KLM has nominated Mathieu Essenberg as Chief Operating Officer (COO) and member of the statutory Managing Board. Essenberg is currently serving as interim COO and also heads Engineering & Maintenance, KLM's maintenance division. The recruitment and selection process for the latter role has started.
Mathieu Essenberg nominated as COO of KLM
- Date: 25 June 2026
- Role: Essenberg has been nominated as COO and member of KLM's statutory Managing Board. He has been serving as interim COO while also heading Engineering & Maintenance (E&M).
Process:
- Nomination will be submitted to shareholders at an Extraordinary General Meeting.
- KLM's Works Council will provide advisory input.
Leadership endorsements:
- Marjan Rintel (CEO): Praised Essenberg's deep operational knowledge, leadership, and experience as a B-737 captain.
- Wiebe Draijer (Supervisory Board Chair): Highlighted his ability to unite teams and strengthen operational performance.
Career background:
- Joined KLM in 2002.
- Held management roles at KLM Cityhopper and Flight Operations.
- Led aircraft maintenance as SVP Airframe/Operations (2018).
- EVP Hub Operations (2022), overseeing Ground Services.
- Returned to E&M in 2025 as EVP.
- Active pilot since 2017, currently a B-737 captain.
Vision:
Essenberg emphasized priorities of safety, operational reliability, and passenger experience as central to his leadership.
Future Managing Board composition:
- Marjan Rintel (President & CEO)
- Bas Brouns (CFO)
- Mathieu Essenberg (COO)
- Miriam Kartman (Chief People Officer)
This nomination signals continuity and stability, with KLM choosing a seasoned insider who blends operational expertise with leadership experience.
Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Travel Media.