Jan Smets joins the Board of Directors of SN Airholding

Jan Smets, former Governor of the National Bank of Belgium, has been elected member of the Board of Directors of SN Airholding by Deutsche Lufthansa AG, shareholder of SN Airholding. With Jan Smets’ arrival, Brussels Airlines is reinforcing its Board with a renowned Belgian monetary expert and economist.

An economist from Ghent University, Jan Smets joined the Research and Economics Department of the National Bank of Belgium in 1973. In 1982, he served as an expert on the Inflation and Competitiveness Committees of the Central Council for Industry and, a year later, he was appointed as Belgian expert in the EC working group on monetary policy, working on behalf of the Committee of Governors of the Central Banks of the European Economic Community. In 1986, he was appointed Chairman of the Belgian Index Commission, a position he held until 1992.

In 1994, after six years of experience within the Belgian political landscape, Jan Smets returned to the National Bank as Head of the Research and Economics Department. In 1999, he was appointed Director of the Bank. From 1999 to 2002, he was given the task of preparing for the introduction of the euro, as Commissioner-General for the Euro. In March 2015, Mr Smets started his new role as Governor of the National Bank, a position he occupied until January 2019. For several years, Mr Smets served as Vice-President of the High Council for Employment and Chairman of the Budgetary Section of the High Council of Finance. He has also held several international positions: he was member of the Governing Council of the European Central Bank, Board Member of the Bank for International Settlements and Governor of the International Monetary Fund.

“I am extremely happy and proud that Jan Smets has accepted to become a director of the SN Airholding Board. His longstanding expertise in economics, his deep international experience will be of great value for us”, declared Etienne Davignon, co-Chairman of SN Airholding. “His open mindedness perfectly corresponds with what Lufthansa, Eurowings and Brussels Airlines stand for.”

Deutsche Lufthansa AG, shareholder of SN Airholding, has appointed Jan Smets as a new board member of SN Airholding as of July 9th.
 

The new Board of Directors of SN Airholding consists of the following members:

  • Count and Minister of State Etienne Davignon (Co-Chairman)
  • Thorsten Dirks, Chief Executive Officer Eurowings (Co-Chairman)
  • Jan Smets, Former Governor of the National Bank of Belgium
  • Heike Birlenbach, Senior Vice President Sales Lufthansa Group Network Airlines & CCO Hub Frankfurt
  • Jörg Beissel, Head of Corporate Controlling at Deutsche Lufthansa AG

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About Brussels Airlines

Brussels Airlines is the home carrier of Belgium and one of the four network airlines of the Lufthansa Group. It connects the European capital from Brussels Airport with over 90 destinations, 18 of which are in Sub Saharan Africa. The company employs more than 3,500 people and operates 44 aircraft.

Brussels Airlines aims to emit 50% less CO2 by 2030 compared to 2019 and plans to be carbon neutral by 2050. The airline is participating in the Stargate Project led by Brussels Airport and is therefore part of the testing ground for sustainable aviation at its home base. In addition, the airline signed the Circular Economy agreement of the Antwerp Management School in 2021. The airline was the first to transport Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) through the CEPS-pipeline connecting Brussels Airport early 2023. By end 2024, Brussels Airlines will have welcomed five state-of-the-art Airbus A320neo allowing the airline to significantly lower its CO2- and noise-emissions on its medium-haul network.

As an ambassador of its country, Brussels Airlines brings the world to Belgium and the best of Belgium to the world, among others through collaborations with Belgian Star Chefs, Belgian culinary products and the Belgian Icons, specially painted aircraft that honour a Belgian iconic person, team or event to promote Belgian culture worldwide.

More information on brusselsairlines.com 


About Star Alliance

Established in 1997 as the first truly global airline alliance, the Star Alliance network was founded on a customer value proposition of global reach, worldwide recognition, and seamless service. Since its inception, it has offered the largest and most comprehensive airline network, with a strong emphasis on enhancing the customer experience throughout the entire Alliance journey.

Overall, the Star Alliance network currently offers more than 17,500 daily flights to over 1,150 airports in almost 190 countries.

Star Alliance Press Office: +65 8729 6691; mediarelations@staralliance.com
More information on staralliance.com

Contact

b.house Zone General Aviation - Airport Building 26 1831 Diegem

+32 2 723 89 90

press@brusselsairlines.com

www.brusselsairlines.com