Flybe CFO quits airline to wing into building components group

The Chief Financial Officer of airline Flybe has quit to take up a similar position at a building components group.

The airline, the largest in terms of volume at Birmingham Airport, said Philip de Klerk would remain with the business until October 1 so that a successor could be found.

Mr de Klerk, aged 48, has helped lead the airline’s change and transformation programme.

Thanking him for his service, Flybe said the process of finding his successor had now begun.

Mr de Klerk is leaving to join Low & Bonar, where he will take up his new role with effect from October 2.

Prior to joining Flybe Mr De Klerk worked for SABMiller, where he played a key leadership role as Finance Director for Business Capabilities amongst other positions. Previously, he had been at Ineos, where he was Finance Director of the Polymers & Olefins business in Europe.

Mr De Klerk is a CIMA qualified accountant who spent the first 16 years of his career at Unilever, rising to CFO for its Swiss and then Benelux operations.

He replaces Mike Holt at Low & Bonar, who stepped down as CFO by mutual conscenet last month.

Mr Holt is staying with the company for an agreed period of time to assist with an orderly handover. To support the handover process, Simon Dray, the current Deputy CFO has been appointed as Interim CFO.

Martin Flower, chairman, Low & Bonar said: “Philip brings with him commercial as well as financial expertise and substantial experience of international manufacturing businesses. We are confident that he will bring these capabilities to benefit Low & Bonar as we continue to drive our strategy of growth and stringent portfolio management across our global end markets. We look forward to working with him.”