Air France-KLM Names Air Canada's Benjamin Smith as CEO

(Bloomberg) -- Air France-KLM confirms that its board has decided to name Benjamin Smith as chief executive officer amid opposition from Air France-KLM’s unions over the airline naming a foreign manager.

• Smith was Air Canada’s chief operating officer and passenger airlines president until today
• Smith will take up his duties at Air France-KLM at the latest on Sept. 30
• Board will announce as quickly as possible an updated governance structure on the roles and missions of the non-executive chairmanship of Air France-KLM and Air France
• Statement says Smith is “a man who prefers dialogue”
• NOTE: Earlier, Air France Unions Prepare Frosty Welcome for CEO Pick Smith (1)

To contact the reporter on this story: Katherine Tam in New York at ktam1@bloomberg.net

To contact the editor responsible for this story: Lauren Berry at lberry4@bloomberg.net

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