Jan Smets to take over from Etienne Davignon as Co-Chairman of the Board of Directors of SN Airholding

Etienne Davignon to remain member of the Board of Directors and Christina Foerster to join as new member

Thursday, April 16th 2020 - Jan Smets, former Governor of the National Bank of Belgium and member of the SN Airholding Board of Directors since July 2019, has been elected Co-Chairman of the Board of Directors of SN Airholding. Jan Smets herewith takes with immediate effect over from Etienne Davignon who remains member of the Board of Directors. Former Brussels Airlines CEO, Christina Foerster, will replace Jörg Beissel as Board member. 

In its latest meeting, the Board of Directors of SN Airholding has decided to appoint Jan Smets as its Co-Chairman. Thorsten Dirks, Member of the Lufthansa Group Executive Board & Chief Officer IT, Digital & Innovation, will chair next to Jan Smets and herewith keeps his position as Co-Chairman of the Board.

In parallel, Christina Foerster, Member of the Lufthansa Group Executive Board, Customer & Corporate Responsibility and former CEO of Brussels Airlines, will join the SN Airholding Board of Directors as new member, herewith replacing Jörg Beissel, Head of Corporate Controlling at Deutsche Lufthansa AG.

After 18 years at the head of the SN Airholding Board, guiding Brussels Airlines through challenging times, Etienne Davignon, believes the time is right to hand over his Co-Chairman responsibilities to Jan Smets. He remains however an active member of the Board of Directors.

“Brussels Airlines is facing turbulent times. With his renowned expertise in economics and in-depth international experience, Jan is the right person to support the Management Board of Brussels Airlines in guiding Belgium’s home carrier through the unprecedented crisis caused by worldwide Coronavirus pandemic. In parallel, I am very happy to welcome Christina Foerster in the Board. As former CEO of Brussels Airlines and member of the Lufthansa Group Executive Board, her extensive knowledge of both entities are definitely of an added value to Brussels Airlines.”

Etienne Davignon, former Co-Chairman of the SN Airholding Board of Directors 

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

  • Jan Smets, Former Governor of the National Bank of Belgium (Co-Chairman)
  • Thorsten Dirks, Member of the Lufthansa Group Executive Board & Chief Officer IT, Digital & Innovation (Co-Chairman)
  • Minister of State Etienne Davignon 
  • Heike Birlenbach, Senior Vice President Sales Lufthansa Group Network Airlines & CCO Hub Frankfurt
  • Christina Foerster, Member of the Lufthansa Group Executive Board, Customer & Corporate Responsibility and former CEO of Brussels Airlines

 

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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 85 destinations, 17 of which are in Sub Saharan Africa. The company employs more than 3,300 people and operates 43 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

The Star Alliance network was established in 1997 as the first truly global airline alliance, based on a customer value proposition of global reach, worldwide recognition and seamless service. Since inception, it has offered the largest and most comprehensive airline network, with a focus on improving customer experience across the Alliance journey.

Overall, the Star Alliance network currently offers more than 10,000 daily flights to almost 1,200 airports in 184 countries.

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