KLM Royal Dutch Airlines announced the hiring of Rene de Groot as its new Chief Operating Officer (COO), effective from January 1, 2015. In this new role, he will be responsible for managing KLM s operational divisions and will replace Pieter Elbers, who became President and CEO of KLM on October 15, 2014. In 1990, Rene de Groot joined KLM and is currently functioning as Senior Vice President of Operations at Engineering & Maintenance.