Next Air France-KLM boss must not surrender French interests-director

The next CE of Air-France-KLM must not be beholden to external interests, said a senior French pilot on the group's board of directors, criticising the possible choice of Air Canada's COO as preferred candidate. Le Monde this week reported that Air France-KLM's nominations committee had picked Canadian Benjamin Smith as its top candidate to head the airline at a time the French brand, Air France, is struggling to cut costs amid union opposition. The group has not denied Smith is a candidate, saying only that no decision has been made yet. Air Canada has made no comment. "It might be useful to say what Air France does not need: enough with candidates who are ambassadors for external interests," Paul Farges, a board director representing employee shareholders, wrote in a Sunday newspaper. <br/>