Air Canada VP Ben Smith hired for the Air France - KLM CEO position
Aug 20, 2018, 11:29 am
#166
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Perhaps the most detailed and motivated analysis of the challenges to be expected (in French):
https://www.latribune.fr/entreprises...ue-787959.html
https://www.latribune.fr/entreprises...ue-787959.html
Aug 20, 2018, 12:27 pm
#167
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I find it funny that the unions are threatening industrial action to protest his appointment - should they not wait for him to actually do something that warrants industrial action ?
Aug 20, 2018, 1:45 pm
#168
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Yes, that would make sense to us Canadians, but the French do it differently. They first go on strike to establish a "rapport de force", and then negociate, or not! This is just the way it is! It will be very interesting to see how this unfolds. This nomination is very much in line with the current French government's philosophy.
Aug 20, 2018, 1:49 pm
#169
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Those unions expect having a say (or a veto) on executive’s appointments / management décisions, just wow!
I would never start a business in that kind of environment. Not with my personal money anyways.
Why don’t they gather money from their members and just purchase AF instead? At least that would save everyone from those useless industrial actions. (Not so sure about how they would tackle costs/make a profit thought… )
Aug 20, 2018, 2:14 pm
#170
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Yes, that would make sense to us Canadians, but the French do it differently. They first go on strike to establish a "rapport de force", and then negociate, or not! This is just the way it is! It will be very interesting to see how this unfolds. This nomination is very much in line with the current French government's philosophy.
In this case, they seem to not like the offered contract, and the appt of Ben seems to be the icing on the cake.
Aug 20, 2018, 2:51 pm
#171
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The risk is he'll pull a Margaret Thatcher, and just shut down AF and shift the routes into an expanded KLM network.
Aug 20, 2018, 2:55 pm
#172
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I suspect the idea is the unions will want to flex their muscle to show the incoming CEO who's really in charge. It keeps him off balance and in crisis mode, rather than having a chance to settle in and implement his agenda in the way he would like. It's very much about shifting the balance of power to the unions and keeping events on their timetable, not Ben's.
The risk is he'll pull a Margaret Thatcher, and just shut down AF and shift the routes into an expanded KLM network.
The risk is he'll pull a Margaret Thatcher, and just shut down AF and shift the routes into an expanded KLM network.
Aug 20, 2018, 3:25 pm
#173
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Aug 20, 2018, 3:49 pm
#174
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BTW here is a funny picture from a Dutch article:
https://screenshots.firefox.com/lETb...CWdq/www.ad.nl
From
https://www.ad.nl/economie/vier-tips...even~aad3f3ba/
Four tips for Ben Smith for him to survive mission impossible.
1. Take a class on French integration.
Makes the point that in France one does not negotiate: the boss decides. Hence so many strikes...
2. Go join a French protest.
3. Go visit French president Macron ASAP.
4. Go buy strong shirts. Google "Xavier Broseta’ en ‘chemise."
Aug 20, 2018, 3:58 pm
#175
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What surprises me about this whole thing is these European SkyTeam airlines (i.e. KL/AZ/AF) complain that the British (BA), Germans (LH Group) and Irish (EasyJet/RyanAir) are breathing down their neck with regards to product offering, pricing, route network, etc. but they don't take a moment to reflect on their last 20 years in their industry. While the other carriers have grown, the stubborn unions at these airlines have been digging their heels in harder than ever even when their employer's financial health is on the line. There's a reason why you never see strikes at LH, BA, FR and U2!
Safe Travels,
James
Safe Travels,
James
Aug 20, 2018, 4:08 pm
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Aug 20, 2018, 4:16 pm
#178
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Aug 20, 2018, 9:54 pm
#179
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They also have some airline called Joon. As far as I can tell is Transavia for the cool kids.
He may be able to take what Air Canada did with Tango, Zip and Rouge and do something similar. European airlines also don't appear to have the same types of limits on their Regional airlines that they do in North America.
Aug 21, 2018, 10:19 am
#180
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