Air France-KLM has appointed Olivier Piette as Executive Vice-President, Strategy & CEO Office, expanding his leadership responsibilities within the group. The appointment, effective 1 February 2026, reflects the airline group’s focus on strengthening strategic coordination across its global operations and corporate functions.
Piette brings more than two decades of experience within Air France and the wider group. Over a 24-year career, he has held senior roles spanning flight operations, network planning, global sales and corporate strategy. Most recently, he served as Chief of Staff to the Group CEO, playing a central role in executive coordination and strategic initiatives. Prior to that, he was Senior Vice-President Network, where he contributed significantly to shaping route development and capacity planning strategies.
In his expanded position, Piette joins the Group Executive Committee and continues to report directly to Group CEO Benjamin Smith. His remit now includes oversight of the group’s long-term strategic direction, brand portfolio alignment and global network planning. The role also encompasses coordination of internal and external communications, ensuring consistent messaging and strategic clarity across the organisation.
The leadership move comes as Air France-KLM navigates an increasingly competitive global aviation landscape, balancing growth ambitions with operational resilience and sustainability objectives. By consolidating strategic oversight and strengthening executive alignment, the group aims to enhance agility in responding to market dynamics, regulatory developments and shifting passenger demand patterns.
Piette’s elevation signals confidence in his experience and institutional knowledge, while reinforcing the group’s commitment to integrated leadership. As Air France-KLM continues its transformation and network optimisation efforts, his expanded mandate is expected to support cohesive decision-making and long-term value creation across the airline group’s portfolio.
