KLM Royal Dutch Airlines Inflight Retail and Media Buyer Frank Hoogma is to assume a new role within the Air France KLM group effective 15 October.

The highly respected inflight executive will now serve as Account Manager SME at Air France KLM as part of the BlueBiz corporate benefits programme covering airlines such as Air France, KLM, Delta Air Lines, Kenya Airways, China Southern and China Eastern Airlines.

His DF&TR career began in 1993 working at the liquor and tobacco shops in Amsterdam Schiphol Airport. These were owned by KLM at the time.

MULTIPLE ROLES

Between 1994 and 2000 he served as Supervisor and Logistic Planner for these outlets before becoming Manager of the KLM staff shop. In 2012, he became KLM Inflight Retail and Media Buyer.

He told TRBusiness: “During the holidays you think about the past year but also the future. Last summer, while enjoying the sun on the Italian Riviera I felt something had to change. I have been allowed to work in travel retail for 25 years and wondered whether I should continue doing so for the next 13 years or if I should do something completely different.”

He added: “Travel retail has brought me a lot. I met many nice people and working in the channel has enriched my life. Even though it was my own choice to depart, it feels like I am leaving a very warm family. Maybe one day I will regret my decision, but at the moment I am looking forward to a new challenge.

“The world is round. It’s not a goodbye but just a see you!”