Air Canada has appointed Anko Van der Werff as its upcoming president and CEO, with the transition expected to take place by January. Van der Werff, currently serving as the president and CEO of Scandinavian Airlines, expressed his honor in leading the renowned Canadian company as it pursues its goals and strategies.
Prior to his current position, Van der Werff held the CEO role at Avianca, a South American airline, and served in various senior positions at Aeromexico, Qatar Airways, and KLM. He also contributed to the boards of international aviation and business organizations.
Van der Werff’s appointment follows the retirement of Michael Rousseau, who announced his departure from Air Canada after 19 years with the airline earlier this year. Rousseau faced criticism for an English-only condolence message regarding a fatal crash at New York’s LaGuardia airport involving an Air Canada Express flight.
Rousseau’s retirement is effective on August 31, and the airline’s executive committee will oversee operations during the transition. Van der Werff’s selection was the outcome of an extensive global search based on various performance criteria, including proficiency in French.
Van der Werff, a native of the Netherlands, is fluent in Dutch and can communicate in French. He is also proficient in English and has acquired knowledge of Spanish, Italian, and Swedish during his career. Air Canada’s website features greetings from Van der Werff in both English and French versions, emphasizing his commitment to serving Canadians in both official languages as a core responsibility of the airline.
