The Board of Hermes selected unanimously Pieter Elbers, CEO of KLM Royal Dutch for the 2020 Hermes Award for his significant contributions to aviation.
Jeff Poole in presenting the award said: “As you know Hermes is an organization of people, of the leaders of Aviation and we are very proud of that. So, it is really appropriate that this year’s award goes to an outstanding leader in aviation. I am delighted to invite Pieter Elbers to accept the Hermes Award. As the CEO of KLM, he inherited a very difficult job, not just running an airline in these challenging times but also managing through the considerable politics and other difficulties surrounding it in an absolutely exemplary way. KLM is very lucky to have Pieter at the helm”.
“What a great surprise and recognition this is. I am truly humbled to receive the 2020 Hermes Award and very grateful to the Hermes – Air Transport Organisation Board of Directors for this honorable recognition. I’d like to take this opportunity to dedicate this award to my all colleagues without whom it would have been impossible to achieve this today.” added Pieter Elbers, President and CEO of KLM Royal Dutch Airlines.