KLM appoints Jan Ernst de Groot as Company Secretary

On August 1, 2003 Jan Ernst de Groot (40) was appointed Company Secretary of KLM Royal Dutch Airlines. He is combining this function with his present position as Senior Vice President Government & Industry Affairs.

On October 1, he further added General Counsel to his titles and, under his leadership, three departments will be combined into one. This consolidation is just one of the measures designed to save costs and simplify the coordination of KLM's internal organization.

As Company Secretary, he is succeeding Hans Eric Kuipéri, who was appointed Senior Vice President Group Aircraft Finance on September 1, 2003. Kuipéri will in the coming period take over the aircraft financing from Robert van der Burg who is retiring in April 2005. Former General Counsel Leslie Mooyaart has left KLM.

Jan Ernst de Groot has been with KLM since 1992. In that time he has served in a number of different positions including head of KLM's industrial relations.