Air Canada has appointed Anko Van der Werff as its new president and CEO, replacing the retiring Michael Rousseau. Van der Werff, who currently holds the position of president and CEO at Scandinavian Airlines, is set to assume his new role by January.
Expressing his gratitude for the opportunity, Van der Werff stated, “It is an honor to be chosen to lead this iconic Canadian company as it advances its ambitions and strategy.” Prior to his current role, Van der Werff served as the CEO of Avianca in South America and held executive positions at Aeromexico, Qatar Airways, and KLM. He has also been involved with various international aviation and business organizations.
Rousseau announced his retirement earlier this year after facing criticism for releasing an English-only condolence message following a tragic collision involving an Air Canada plane at New York’s LaGuardia Airport. The incident resulted in the loss of both pilots and injuries to several passengers.
Van der Werff was selected after a thorough global search process that considered multiple performance criteria, including proficiency in French. While Dutch is his native language, he is capable of communicating in French, in addition to being fluent in English and having knowledge of Spanish, Italian, and Swedish.
The transition in leadership will occur as Rousseau steps down on August 31. During this period, the airline’s executive committee will report directly to the board of directors. Van der Werff’s appointment underscores Air Canada’s commitment to serving Canadians in both official languages, as highlighted in his welcoming message available in English and French on the airline’s website.
