Management changes at KLM E&M and Ground Services

KLM Royal Dutch Airlines announces management changes at its divisions Engineering & Maintenance (E&M) and Ground Services. Ton Dortmans, Executive Vice President at E&M, will reach retirement age next year, marking his retirement from KLM after an impressive 40 years of service. His successor as of 1 January 2025 is Mathieu Essenberg, who currently heads the Ground Services division in the role of EVP Hub Operations. As of 1 February 2025, Mathieu will be succeeded by Koen Bolster, who is currently responsible for KLM’s global cargo operations as Vice President (VP) Worldwide Operations Cargo.

Ton Dortmans began his career at KLM on August 1, 1985, and has since held various positions within E&M, Ground Services, Flight Operations and the Operations Control Center. In 2012, he was appointed EVP E&M, a position in which he is responsible for the aircraft maintenance of the KLM fleet and about 200 external Maintenance, Repair & Overhaul (MRO) customers worldwide. In addition to his role within E&M, Ton has a number of secondary activities in which he represents KLM, for example as Chair of EPCOR B.V. and Board member of KLM UK Engineering Ltd.

Marjan Rintel, CEO of KLM: [i"Timely and safely maintaining aircraft, engines, and components, that’s what E&M is all about. Ton Dortmans has carried out that great responsibility with zeal, showing a passion for the technology, but above all for the people behind it. He managed to lead E&M through challenging circumstances in recent years, when we had to let go of many engineering colleagues during COVID and then had to scale up again. I want to sincerely thank Ton Dortmans for everything he has brought to KLM and wish him the best of luck.”[/i]

Mathieu Essenberg, currently EVP Hub Operations at Ground Services, will take over the role of EVP E&M from January 2025. Mathieu started his career at KLM in 2002 and has since held various management positions within KLM Cityhopper, Flight Operations, and E&M. He is also still qualified as a captain on the Boeing 737.

Marjan Rintel: [i"The maintenance and thereby the availability of our fleet has our highest attention. Mathieu has proven that he can lead major changes while also paying attention to daily challenges. His strategic vision and pragmatic result-oriented approach make him the right person to lead E&M"[/i]

Koen Bolster, currently Vice President Worldwide Operations Cargo, will take over the role of EVP Hub Operations at Ground Services from February 1, 2025. Koen started his career at KLM in 2006 and has since held various positions within Ground Services and Cargo, as well as in network planning and passenger revenue management. He also worked for KLM in Frankfurt and Paris.

Maarten Stienen, COO of KLM: “With his broad KLM knowledge and experience, Koen can make a significant contribution to the further growth and future of Ground Services. Koen has shown at Cargo that he can find the balance between daily operations and long-term goals, while also keeping an eye on the human side of processes. I wish him the best of luck and look forward to our collaboration.”