Air Canada has officially announced its new leader, putting an end to months of uncertainty about who would take the helm of the country’s largest airline. Anko Van der Werff, the current chief executive of Scandinavian Airlines (SAS), has been selected to succeed outgoing CEO Michael Rousseau.
The announcement came on Wednesday, concluding an extensive search that began when Rousseau revealed his retirement plans back in March. Rousseau’s departure marks the end of an impressive 19-year journey with the Canadian carrier, though his final months were not without controversy.
Earlier this year, Rousseau faced significant public backlash after he failed to offer condolences in French following a tragic crash that claimed the lives of two pilots. The incident reignited debates about bilingualism in Canadian corporate leadership, given that French is one of the nation’s two official languages.
Van der Werff brings extensive international aviation experience to his new role. He is expected to officially join Air Canada by the end of January 2027. Meanwhile, SAS, which counts Air France-KLM among its partial owners, has announced it will begin searching for its own new leader to fill the upcoming vacancy.
The appointment signals a new chapter for Air Canada as it looks to strengthen its position in the competitive global aviation market under fresh leadership with a strong European background.
