Mathieu Essenberg nominated as Chief Operating Officer of KLM

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.