Air Canada has appointed aviation executive Anko Van der Werff as its next President and Chief Executive Officer, with the current Scandinavian Airlines chief set to assume the role by January following the retirement of longtime CEO Michael Rousseau.
The airline announced Wednesday that Van der Werff was selected after what it described as a comprehensive international search focused on leadership experience, operational expertise and bilingual communication skills.
“It is an honour to be chosen to lead this iconic Canadian company as it advances its ambitions and strategy,” Van der Werff said in a statement.
Van der Werff brings decades of global aviation experience to Canada’s largest airline. He currently serves as President and CEO of Scandinavian Airlines (SAS) and previously led Avianca, one of South America’s largest carriers. His career has also included senior leadership positions at Aeromexico, Qatar Airways and KLM, along with board roles in several international aviation and business organizations.
He succeeds Michael Rousseau, who announced earlier this year that he would retire after 19 years with Air Canada. Rousseau’s retirement takes effect on Aug. 31, with the airline’s executive committee reporting directly to the board during the transition period.
Rousseau’s departure follows controversy surrounding his response to the fatal Air Canada Express crash at New York’s LaGuardia Airport. His video message expressing condolences was delivered almost entirely in English, with only a brief greeting and closing in French. The decision drew criticism from French-speaking Canadians and prompted Parliament’s official languages committee to summon him to testify.
Air Canada said Van der Werff’s ability to communicate in French was among the factors considered during the selection process. A native of the Netherlands, he speaks Dutch and English, can communicate in French, and has also learned Spanish, Italian and Swedish throughout his international career.
In a welcome message released alongside the announcement, Van der Werff emphasized his commitment to serving Canadians in both official languages, calling bilingual service a fundamental responsibility of the country’s flag carrier.
The appointment marks a new chapter for Air Canada as the airline looks to build on its international
