Air France has appointed Anne Rigail, customer EVP, as its
new CEO, effective Dec. 17. Air France-KLM Group CEO Benjamin Smith had been
acting as the carrier's CEO following the resignation of Air France CEO Franck
Terner in September. Rigail, whose current role is in customer service, now will
lead negotiations with Air France's pilots and cabin crew unions following a
string of strikes this year. Smith said Rigail "has always paid
particular attention to employees while implementing the many projects and
transformations she has led" and that her appointment is "an
important step in [the group's] reorganization to reconquer its market
position."