SHS Aviation B.V., the parent company of VLM Airlines, announced that Harm Prins has decided to leave the company. Karl Rickard will take over as CEO. It was also decided that Christian Heinzmann will join the board of directors of SHS Aviation.
Karl Rickard started his career as an engineer and held various senior technical positions in aviation maintenance companies (a.o. KLM, Luxair and Team Air Lingus). Since 2010 he was CEO of Power Jet Aviation, a Luxembourg-based company specialising in aircraft pre-purchase inspections, asset valuation, aircraft disassembly and end of life solutions for retired fleets. Karl has extensive experience in the field of airline operations, route development, finance, regulatory matters and maintenance.
“I am glad to come on board at a moment that my predecessor Harm has laid a good foundation for the future. VLM Airlines is now ready to gear up its activities and we will start preparing the launch of our future long-haul operations”, said the newly appointed CEO, Karl Rickard. “I am looking forward to work with the staff of VLM Airlines in Antwerp, Brussels and Maribor. Their enthusiasm and passion for the company and aviation is known far beyond the borders of Belgium and Slovenia.”
Harm Prins was the driving force behind the successful resurrection of VLM Airlines. “As with other investment projects that I have worked on in the past, it gives me satisfaction when I can put a company back on track. The past few months have been very intense. With the integration of Thomas Cook Airlines Belgium and the three AOCs for VLM Airlines, I consider my job to be done. It is now up to others to run the business. I am already looking forward to a new challenge,” says Harm Prins. “I sincerely thank the employees of VLM Airlines for the confidence they have in the vision that management has set out and their belief in the future.”
The board of directors wants to thank Harm for his efforts and wishes him good luck with his future career. At the same time, the board welcomes both Karl Rickard and Christian Heinzmann on board.
Tuesday, November 28, 2017
