Air Canada announced on Wednesday that Scandinavian Airlines chief executive Anko Van der Werff will become its next President and Chief Executive Officer and a board member by the end of January 2027.
Van der Werff succeeds Michael Rousseau, who announced his retirement in March after public outcry over his failure to speak French.
Rousseau's departure is effective August 31, 2026.
Transition and Board Oversight
During the transition period following Rousseau's exit, Air Canada's Executive Committee will report directly to the Board of Directors.
The airline is also executing a fleet expansion program involving Airbus SE A321XLR aircraft.
"Our Board of Directors was impressed by the quality of experienced executives from around the world who expressed interest in the role," said Vagn Sørensen, Chair of the Board.
Sørensen added that the board was pleased to recruit an executive with a 25-year international track record spanning leadership positions at Avianca Group, Aeroméxico, KLM Royal Dutch Airlines, and Qatar Airways.
"The Board is grateful to Michael Rousseau for his outstanding leadership and extraordinary contributions, which are in large part responsible for the enviable position Air Canada enjoys among global carriers," said Sørensen.
Rousseau had drawn strong criticism from federal politicians, including Prime Minister Mark Carney, after delivering condolences almost entirely in English following a fatal training flight accident in New York.
"Air Canada is a globally recognized airline leader.
It is an honour to be chosen to lead this iconic Canadian company as it advances its ambitions and strategy, builds on its award-winning employee culture and customer value proposition, and prepares for an even brighter future," said Van der Werff.
The incoming CEO, a native of the Netherlands, noted his capability to communicate in French, which is a key legal and operational requirement for the Montreal-headquartered carrier.
"I look forward to working closely with Air Canada’s talented executive team and with all employees to fulfil our commitments to shareholders and customers.
I am excited about relocating to Montréal and eager to get started," said Van der Werff.
"Like many Dutch people of my generation, I was fortunate enough to learn French in school, and I spent some time in France with my parents, especially my mom," he added.
Van der Werff emphasized his awareness of the bilingual landscape in his new role, according to an internal corporate message reported by Bloomberg News.
"I understand the importance of being able to communicate in French here in Canada," he said.
