Maarten Klinjistra is general manager of Siginon Aviation in Kenya. He is well versed in all matters aviation having worked in East, West and South Africa and provided regional oversight in strategic African markets such as DR Congo, Zambia, Ethiopia and Nigeria. He also likes a good steak.
ACW: If you were sent to an island – food and shelter is available – what three luxury items would you take?
Maarten Klinjistra: A solar power/inverter set, laptop and a satellite or 4G data router.
ACW: If there was a movie produced about your life, who would play you and why?
Maarten Klinjistra: Albert Finney. A great actor who would portray my character well… I think.
ACW: What’s the most interesting thing about you that we wouldn’t learn from your CV alone?
Maarten Klinjistra: I co-hosted a jazz show on radio.
ACW: We finish the interview and you step outside the office and find a lottery ticket that ends up winning 10 million shillings ($10,000). What would you do?
Maarten Klinjistra: Cash it in and buy agricultural land and do some farming.
ACW: Are you afraid of clowns?
Maarten Klinjistra: No.
ACW: What are the best and worst purchases you’ve ever made?
Maarten Klinjistra: My home was the best and the worst was a yacht.
ACW: What was the last film you saw?
Maarten Klinjistra: The Big Short
ACW: What did you have for breakfast?
Maarten Klinjistra: Oats and tea.
ACW: If ACW came to your house for dinner, what would you prepare for us?
Maarten Klinjistra: Aperitifs, Pasta Alfredo and assorted fresh fruits, Port, cheese and crackers.
ACW: You are on Death Row. What is your final meal?
Maarten Klinjistra: A medium-rare pepper-coated, well-aged rump steak, broccoli, roast potatoes with mayonnaise, carrots, cappuccino and ice cold sparkling water.
ACW: What did you want to be when you grew up?
Maarten Klinjistra: Airline pilot.
ACW: If you could have dinner with anyone from history, who would it be and why?
Maarten Klinjistra: Charlie ‘Bird’ Parker. Truly, a musical genius who contributed immensely to Jazz music; great conversations at the table.
ACW: Name a product or service you love so much that you’d happily be that company’s spokesperson. (Not Siginon!).
Maarten Klinjistra: Spotify.
ACW: What would your autobiography be called?
Maarten Klinjistra: ‘He Flew’.
