Air France names Anne Rigail as new CEO

Dec 18, 2018: Anne Rigail, previously EVP Customer at Air France, has now been appointed as the CEO of the French flag carrier.

She replaces Benjamin Smith, who was appointed acting CEO of Air France through the end of 2018.

Subsequent to the proposal of Benjamin Smith, CEO Air France-KLM, and the approval of the Air France-KLM Board of Directors, the Air France Board of Directors has appointed Anne Rigail as CEO of Air France, following their meeting on December 12, 2018. Benjamin Smith said: “Anne is a strong professional in the airline industry. I have complete faith that Anne will succeed in transforming Air France. Together with Pieter Elbers, president and CEO of KLM, the Air France-KLM Group is taking an important step in its reorganisation to reconquer its market position.”

In 1991, Rigail joined Air Inter and after five years, she was appointed head of Air France Customer Services at Paris-Orly.

In 1999, she became director of Passenger and Baggage Connections at the Paris-Charles de Gaulle hub, and subsequently head of Customer and Baggage Products for Ground Operations.

Later in 2005, she was appointed head of the Paris-CDG Hub Operations Control Centre and in 2009, she became VP Ground Operations at Paris-Charles de Gaulle.

In 2013 she became EVP In-flight Services, in charge of Cabin Crew and in 2017 was appointed EVP Customer.