Is The First Female CEO Of The Airline

Subsequent to the proposal of Benjamin Smith, CEO Air France-KLM, and the approval of the Air France-KLM Board of Directors, the Air France Board of Directors has appointed Anne Rigail as CEO of Air France, following their meeting on December 12, 2018.

Previously EVP Customer at Air France, Anne Rigail will assume her new role as CEO Air France on December 17, 2018, and will replace Benjamin Smith, who was appointed acting CEO of Air France through the end of 2018.

“I would like to thank Benjamin Smith for the outstanding work he has accomplished during his time as acting CEO Air France,” said Anne-Marie Couderc, Chairwoman of the Air France-KLM Board of Directors. “Under his leadership, our airline has rapidly taken decisive steps, renewing constructive social dialogue, and proposing a new executive governance structure as seen with the arrival of Anne Rigail. I wish Anne every success in her new position, for the benefit of both Air France and the Air France-KLM Group. I am very pleased that she has accepted this very exciting new challenge."

“I am delighted that Anne Rigail is to become the new CEO of Air France,” said Benjamin Smith. “Anne is a strong professional in the airline industry. Throughout her career, she has always paid particular attention to employees while implementing the many projects and transformations she has led, and placed the customer at the heart of everything she does. With the support and commitment of every single employee, I am confident we can rise to the challenges for Air France today, ensuring service excellence to all our customers. I have complete faith that Anne will succeed in transforming Air France. Together with Pieter Elbers, President and CEO of KLM, the Air France-KLM Group is taking an important step in its reorganisation to reconquer its market position."

Born on March 8, 1969, Anne Rigail is a graduate of the Mines Paris Tech university. She joined Air Inter in 1991. In 1996, she was appointed head  of Air France Customer Services at Paris-Orly. In 1999, she was became Director of Passenger and Baggage Connections at the Paris-Charles de Gaulle hub, and subsequently head of Customer and Baggage Products for Ground Operations. In 2005, she was appointed head of the Paris-CDG Hub Operations Control Centre. She became VP Ground Operations at Paris-Charles de Gaulle in 2009. In 2013 she became EVP In-flight Services, in charge of Cabin Crew and in 2017 was appointed EVP Customer.

(Image provided with Air France news release)

FMI: www.airfrance.com