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Air Canada Names Anko van der Werff as Next President and CEO
Summary
Air Canada has appointed Anko van der Werff, the current CEO of Scandinavian Airlines, as its next President and Chief Executive Officer, effective by the end of January 2027. He will succeed Michael Rousseau, who announced his retirement.
Air Canada announced it has appointed Anko van der Werff to be its next President and Chief Executive Officer. Van der Werff is expected to assume the role and join the company's board of directors by the end of January 2027. He will replace Michael Rousseau, who is retiring after 19 years with the Canadian airline.
Van der Werff currently serves as the President and CEO of Scandinavian Airlines. He brings 25 years of international aviation experience to the role, having held executive positions at several major carriers, including Avianca Group, Aeroméxico, KLM Royal Dutch Airlines, and Qatar Airways.
Vagn Sørensen, Chair of Air Canada's Board of Directors, noted that the appointment follows a comprehensive global search. He stated the board was impressed with the caliber of candidates and highlighted van der Werff's extensive experience. The ability to communicate in French was among the performance criteria considered during the selection process.
AdIn a statement, van der Werff said it was an honor to be chosen to lead the company. He expressed his intention to work with the executive team and employees to advance the airline's strategy and fulfill commitments to shareholders and customers. Van der Werff, a Netherlands native, holds a master's degree in law from Leiden University and has completed executive studies at Harvard Business School.
Michael Rousseau's retirement will be effective on August 31, 2026. He will remain available to assist with the leadership transition as needed. In the interim period following his departure, the airline's executive committee will report directly to the board of directors.