Air Canada's CEO Revealed – And He Speaks French

A New Era for Air Canada

Air Canada has announced the appointment of Anko van der Werff as its next president and CEO, marking a significant shift in leadership for the Canadian airline. Van der Werff, the chief executive of Scandinavian Airlines (SAS), brings with him over 25 years of experience in the aviation industry across Europe and Latin America. His multilingual skills, particularly his fluency in French, have been highlighted as a key factor in his selection, addressing one of the most prominent criticisms of the airline’s previous leadership.

Van der Werff is set to take over by the end of January 2027, succeeding Michael Rousseau, who recently retired after nearly two decades with the company. The decision comes in the wake of intense public scrutiny following Rousseau’s handling of a message regarding the LaGuardia crash, which was delivered almost entirely in English despite Air Canada’s headquarters being in Montreal.

Language at the Center of the Conversation

The appointment of Van der Werff has sparked considerable discussion about language and bilingualism within Air Canada. Shortly after the announcement, Van der Werff released a six-minute video to employees, delivered entirely in French, promising to serve Canadians in both official languages. This move stood in stark contrast to Rousseau’s limited French abilities, which repeatedly drew criticism during his tenure.

The controversy surrounding Rousseau intensified earlier this year when he issued a message honoring the pilots killed in the LaGuardia collision, which was delivered almost exclusively in English. This decision led to thousands of complaints from French-speaking Canadians, highlighting concerns about the lack of bilingual leadership at one of Canada’s largest federally regulated companies.

The LaGuardia Crash: A Tragic Incident

On March 22, an Air Canada plane coming from Montreal collided with a fire truck on the runway at LaGuardia Airport in New York. At the time of the accident, there was an emergency on another runway, and the air traffic controller mistakenly gave the emergency vehicle permission to cross the runway where Air Canada Express Flight 8646 had just landed. ATC attempted to rescind its permission, but the fire truck did not stop. Flight 8646, a CRJ-900 operated by Jazz Aviation, struck the firetruck, killing both pilots and sending more than 40 people to the hospital.

The plane was carrying 76 souls from Montreal to New York, with four crew members and 72 passengers on board. One of the pilots killed in the accident was a French-Canadian individual. Rousseau failed to deliver Air Canada’s message in French, causing widespread discontent among French-speaking Canadians.

Operational Expertise and Strategic Vision

While language has dominated the public conversation, Air Canada’s board has emphasized Van der Werff’s operational expertise. During his five years at SAS, he guided the Scandinavian carrier through bankruptcy protection, restructuring negotiations, and a major reorganization aimed at returning the airline to profitability. He also oversaw the company’s transition into the SkyTeam airline alliance and helped position SAS for increased investment by Air France-KLM.

Air Canada chair Vagn Sørensen stated that the board believes Van der Werff’s experience managing complex airline operations will be critical as the carrier continues expanding its fleet and international network.

Rousseau's Departure and Transition

Rousseau will step down as chief executive on August 31 after 19 years with Air Canada, including five years as CEO. According to Air Canada, Rousseau will remain available during the transition until Van der Werff assumes the role in January. Although Air Canada has maintained that Rousseau’s retirement was planned before the language controversy erupted, his departure followed months of political criticism in Quebec and renewed scrutiny of the airline’s obligations under Canada’s Official Languages Act.

Federal politicians, Quebec ministers, and language advocates informally requested his retirement, questioning whether the country’s flagship airline should be led by someone unable to communicate fluently in French.

Looking Ahead

For Air Canada, the appointment marks the beginning of a new chapter for the organization. The airline’s next CEO is inheriting a company in the middle of a major fleet renewal. At the same time, Air Canada is attempting continued international expansion and is experiencing heightened public expectations. With flights being delayed and routinely cancelled, public perception of the brand has tanked over the last year.

Air Canada hopes that with its new CEO, who brings with him an impressive resume and the necessary French skills, the brand perception will be aided. Van der Werff is expected to join Air Canada’s board and formally assume the role of president and chief executive by the end of January 2027.

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