Air France Industries KLM Engineering & Maintenance (AFI KLM E&M) has appointed Marloes van Laake as executive vice president of engineering and maintenance at KLM, effective February 1, 2027.
Van Laake will also join KLM’s executive committee, succeeding Mathieu Essenberg.
Van Laake has more than 20 years of experience in the aviation industry, having served as chief operating officer at Transavia since 2022.
Previously, she held various management positions within the Air France-KLM Group, including vice president Europe at Air France KLM Martinair Cargo.
Van Laake began her career at KLM as a corporate management trainee.
In her new role, van Laake will lead KLM Engineering & Maintenance, which is responsible for maintaining KLM’s fleet and providing MRO services to international airline customers.
Van Laake, said: “I am very much looking forward to joining Engineering & Maintenance, where technical expertise and the day-to-day realities of airline operations come together. This combination makes the role particularly interesting to me. I look forward to getting to know the E&M teams and building on the organization’s achievements together.
"At the same time, I look back with great appreciation on more than four years at Transavia. Working alongside colleagues and partners to support its operations and continued development has been a rewarding experience, and I look forward to bringing that experience to my new role.”
Marjan Rintel, president and chief executive of KLM, said: “I am pleased that Marloes will be taking on this role at KLM. With her extensive aviation experience, deep understanding of our industry and collaborative leadership style, she brings valuable expertise to our organisation.
"Engineering & Maintenance plays a crucial role in ensuring the safety and reliability of our operations. I am confident that Marloes will further strengthen the organisation and prepare it for the future.”
