Lufthansa has named former BMI chief financial officer Simone Menne as its new chief financial officer with effect from July 1st.

Simone Menne succeeds Stephan Gemkow, who is stepping down as CFO in mutual agreement with effect from 30 June 2012 in order to take over as Chief Executive Officer of the Haniel Group. Menne’s contract runs up to 30 June 2015.

Jürgen Weber, chairman of the Supervisory Board of Deutsche Lufthansa AG said: “With Simone Menne, we are appointing to the Lufthansa Group Executive Board an experienced Lufthansa manager, who is fully conversant with the Group and our industry.

“In the difficult economic and political conditions prevailing in the aviation industry, that is the best prerequisite for further successful stewardship of the important finance division. Thanks to strong and proven management continuity, Lufthansa will remain one of the world’s most financially sound aviation groups in the future.“

Menne has been Chief Financial Officer of BMI since 2010. She began working at Lufthansa in April 1989.