Air France-KLM’s Canada GM heads to Amsterdam, Eugénie Audebert takes helm

Air France-KLM’s General Manager for Canada, Jean-Eudes de la Bretèche, is leaving Montreal after four years to take on a new international role with the airline group in Amsterdam.

de la Bretèche announced on LinkedIn that he will become business development director, based in Amsterdam, where he will focus on driving business performance across a diverse portfolio of markets spanning Europe, the Middle East, Asia and Latin America.

“After four incredible years, I feel immensely proud and grateful to have had the opportunity to represent Air France and KLM in such an important market for the Group,” de la Bretèche said in announcing the move.

An Air France-KLM veteran, de la Bretèche arrived in Montreal in August 2022 from Paris, where he served as Alliances Director Americas, a role that primarily focused on coordinating the management of Air France-KLM’s transatlantic joint ventures.

Reflecting on his time in Canada, de la Bretèche thanked the teams and partners he worked with in Montreal and across Air France-KLM’s seven Canadian stations.

“I have been lucky to work alongside great teams, in Montreal and across each of our seven stations, and to collaborate with exceptional partners throughout this beautiful country,” he wrote.

“A huge thank you to everyone who made this Canadian adventure such a rewarding experience, both professionally and personally: our teams, our customers, our partners, and all the colleagues from NYC to Montréal I had the pleasure of working with over the past four years.”

Now, it’s on to Amsterdam.

In his new position, de la Bretèche will step into a broader international mandate encompassing markets across four regions.

“A new city, a new challenge, and a great opportunity to take on a broader international role,” he wrote.

de la Bretèche also thanked Noud Duyzings “for the trust and the opportunity,” adding: “I’m very much looking forward to this new adventure!”

He is succeeded by Eugénie Audebert, who becomes the 19th person to lead Air France-KLM’s Canadian operations, which were established in 1950, the year Air France first connected Montreal and Paris.

Nearly 20 years with the group

Audebert arrives in the Canadian market with nearly 20 years of experience at Air France-KLM. She began her career in Italy and has held several roles related to business development, strategy and customer experience.

Previously based in Bogotá, Colombia, she had served since August 2023 as Commercial Director for the Andean countries, Central America, Cuba and the Dominican Republic.

Over the course of her career, Audebert has also been responsible for international key accounts. In that role, she oversaw performance and customer relationships, as well as the negotiation of commercial agreements.

She also served as Chief of Staff within the commercial division, contributing to strategic planning and the coordination of cross-functional projects. Her experience also includes responsibilities related to customer experience across the long-haul network, notably during the rollout of a new generation of Business Class seats.

“A strategic market for the group”

“I am honoured to lead Air France-KLM in Canada and proud to represent both of our brands alongside teams recognized for their expertise and commitment. Canada is a strategic market for the Group. Our longstanding presence and the strength of our offering, further enhanced by our transatlantic joint venture with Delta Air Lines and Virgin Atlantic, as well as our codeshare partnership with WestJet, fully support this momentum," said Audebert in a statement. 

Ten Canadian cities served

In Canada, Air France serves Montreal, Toronto, Ottawa, Vancouver and Quebec City. KLM, meanwhile, connects Montreal, Toronto, Vancouver, Calgary and Edmonton.

The group employs 185 people in Canada.

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