Maarten Stienen is appointed chief operating officer (COO) of KLM Royal Dutch Airlines. Stienen has held various posts at KLM since 1998 and is currently senior vice president of Hub Operations.
Maarten Stienen started out as a management trainee at KLM. He went on to hold a series of operational posts in the Netherlands and elsewhere during his first eleven years with the company, among which vice president Baggage & Turnaround Services. He then became vice president of Industrial Relations & HR. Maarten Stienen spent two years as managing director of KLM Catering Services before transferring to Hub Operations in 2020. His successor will be appointed in due course.
The Supervisory Board will also nominate Maarten Stienen to the General Meeting of Shareholders for appointment to the Board of Management of KLM. For this purpose an extraordinary general meeting will be convened. The Works Council of KLM will be asked for advice on this nomination.
I am glad we have managed to find an excellent candidate for the role of COO. Maarten Stienen has extensive experience in operations as well as other sectors. His appointment will strengthen our executive team in terms of insight as well as experienced leadership. I am very much looking forward to working with Maarten to bring calm and stability to the organisation together.
Marjan Rintel, President & CEO KLM
Maarten Stienen has built up a great track record within KLM. His extensive experience in management and operations make him the ideal candidate for this position. The appointment of Maarten Stienen as COO presents a firm foundation to build on the future of KLM. I have every faith that our new executive team will jointly strengthen KLM’s position. On behalf of the KLM Supervisory Board, I wish Maarten every success in his new challenge.
Cees 't Hart, Chairman of the KLM Supervisory Board
It is an incredible honour to be appointed COO and I am proud to take on this post, which really is a challenge, considering the major operational issues we currently face. In the coming years, I intend to serve the best interests of our colleagues and our passengers. I look forward to joining hands with the team to build the business we want to – a business that keeps its promises to customers and broader society, building a more sustainable future. A business where pleasant working conditions prevail, inspiring pride among its employees and attracting enthusiastic customers.
Maarten Stienen, COO KLM