Frank Wester, the Chief Financial Officer (CFO) is leaving after almost twenty years at Airtrade. He is taking on a new challenge as a teacher. During Airtrade’s 35th anniversary celebrations, he took the opportunity to look back on his career with the company. Wester’s successor has also been announced. Wester began his speech by thanking his colleagues and the founder of Airtrade, Wim Butte, who once hired him. “When I applied for a job at Airtrade, I could never have imagined that I would be staying here for almost twenty years,” Wester said. “It was an incredible journey, full of challenges and wonderful moments.” He emphasized the importance of innovation and adaptability within the company. ‘We have always wanted to be at the forefront of the market,’ says Wester. ‘Airtrade has never stood still. We’ve always been looking for new ways to better serve our customers.” Wester also reflected on the collaboration with CEO Jeroen Martron, whom he considers a close friend. ‘Jeroen and I have been through so much together, both professionally and privately. We’ve laughed, cried, and gone through tough times. But we have always put the interests of Airtrade first,’ Wester said. ‘I am grateful to Jeroen for his leadership and friendship.’ Wester also mentioned the acquisition by KLM and the growing cooperation with the airline. “The strategic partnership with KLM has enabled us to continue to grow and improve our offer. The fact that KLM now has a 100 percent stake in Airtrade shows how valuable our collaboration is,’ Wester said. In his speech, Wester also expressed his confidence in his successor, Laurens Vonkeman. “Laurens is an excellent choice as the new CFO. He has the skills and the personality to take Airtrade further. I’m confident he’ll do a great job,” Wester said. Wester concluded his speech with a message of gratitude and a look to the future. “I am incredibly grateful for my time at Airtrade. It was an honor to be part of such a dynamic and innovative company. Although I will be following a new path, Airtrade will always have a special place in my heart. I wish the team and Laurens all the best for the future’, Wester concluded.
