Air Canada executive Benjamin Smith has been named as Air France-KLM’s new boss, and becomes the first non-French chief in Air France’s 85-year history.
Smith takes over despite union objections preferring another homegrown CEO, but crucially the appointment was backed by the French government which still owns a sizable stake.
He replaces Jean-Marc Janaillac, who stepped down in May over worsening relations with the unions and prolonged strike action which cost the company millions.
"I am well aware of the competitive challenges the Air France-KLM Group is currently facing, and I am convinced that the airlines’ teams have all the strengths to succeed in the global airline market," Smith said in the statement.
French-speaking Smith began his career at Air Canada affiliate Air Ontario and then established his own travel agency.
He rejoined Air Canada nine years later and has a long track record in labor relations.
Several unions representing pilots, flight attendants and ground staff criticized the appointment.
"The choice of candidate should further the defense of our national airline’s interests," they said in a joint statement, adding a foreign CEO appointment would be ‘inconceivable.’
