Peter Hartman, KLM deputy chief executive and chief operations officer, will become acting chief executive from April 2007 and will fully assume the role, replacing long-standing incumbent Leo van Wijk, after the carrier's annual general meeting in July.
Hartman joined KLM in 1973 as an engineering and maintenance controller. He became ground services vice-president in 1989 and senior customer services vice-president in 1990. Since then he has held vice-president roles responsible for personnel and organisation, and engineering and maintenance.
He was appointed to the KLM board of managing directors in 1997.
Van Wijk officially steps down in July after 10 years as KLM president and chief executive, but will continue to be involved in the management of the Air France-KLM group in his capacity as vice-chairman.
Jackie Thompson London
Source: Airline Business
