KQ board names CEO for Jambo Jet

By Standard Digital Reporter

NAIROBI, KENYA: The Board of Kenya Airways has appointed Willem Alexander Hondius as Chief Executive Officer of Jambo Jet Limited, the airline’s new low-cost carrier subsidiary.

"I am pleased to announce the appointment of Willem Hondius as Chief Executive Officer of Jambo Jet, reporting into the Jambo Jet Board which is chaired by Ayisi Makatiani.

Willem brings to the airline a wealth of experience in the aviation industry especially in the low-cost airline area and will be instrumental in steering the operations of the new carrier," Group Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Titus Naikuni, said.

Kenya Airways has been in the process of establishing the low-cost carrier subsidiary and the appointment of the CEO moves the airline closer to the realization of its goal in this respect.

"There is still a lot of work to be done before operations start and this appointment is a major milestone in that process," added Naikuni.

Before his appointment, Hondius was general manager for KLM Royal Dutch Airlines for Eastern Africa based in Nairobi since 2012 as well as project manager for Jambo Jet Limited.

Between 2005 and 2012, he was executive vice-president and chief commercial officer of Transavia Airlines a wholly-owned subsidiary of KLM.  He has also served on various boards.