KLM has nominated Mathieu Essenberg as its new COO and member of the airline’s statutory Managing Board, signalling the carrier’s continued emphasis on operational excellence, safety, and engineering-led leadership. Essenberg has been serving as interim COO while simultaneously leading KLM Engineering & Maintenance (KLM E&M), one of the world’s leading aircraft maintenance organisations.
The nomination will be presented to shareholders for approval at an Extraordinary General Meeting, with KLM’s Works Council also expected to provide its advisory opinion. A recruitment process has now begun to appoint a successor to lead the airline’s Engineering & Maintenance division.
KLM President and CEO Marjan Rintel said Essenberg’s deep understanding of the airline’s operations, combined with his leadership experience across multiple business units and his active role as a Boeing 737 captain, makes him ideally suited to oversee the carrier’s operational performance.
“With Mathieu, we have found an excellent candidate from within our own organisation. He knows the airline inside out and has demonstrated in various leadership roles that he is a driven and inspiring leader. His operational expertise and experience as a pilot will be invaluable as we continue strengthening KLM’s operations,” Rintel said.
Chairman of the KLM Supervisory Board Wiebe Draijer echoed the endorsement, highlighting Essenberg’s ability to lead complex organisations and bring teams together while supporting the airline’s long-term operational resilience.
A KLM veteran since joining the airline in 2002, Essenberg has held several senior operational and engineering leadership positions. At KLM Engineering & Maintenance, he oversaw maintenance operations for both the airline’s fleet and international third-party customers as Senior Vice President Airframe & Operations before leading Hub Operations as Executive Vice President in 2022. He returned to head KLM E&M in 2025 while continuing to serve as a Boeing 737 captain.
Commenting on his appointment, Essenberg said his priorities would centre on safety, operational reliability, and delivering an outstanding customer experience.
“I am deeply honoured by this appointment. Together with all our colleagues, I look forward to addressing the challenges ahead while ensuring safety, operational reliability, and an excellent experience for our passengers remain at the heart of everything we do,” he said.
Subject to shareholder approval, KLM’s Managing Board will comprise Marjan Rintel as President & CEO, Bas Brouns as Chief Financial Officer, Mathieu Essenberg as Chief Operating Officer, and Miriam Kartman as Chief People Officer.
Essenberg’s appointment is particularly significant for the global MRO community, reflecting the growing strategic importance of engineering and maintenance leadership in airline executive management. As carriers increasingly prioritise fleet reliability, operational efficiency, and lifecycle asset management, executives with strong technical and MRO expertise are playing an increasingly influential role in shaping airline strategy.
