Key Takeaways:
- Air Canada appoints Anko Van der Werff as its new chief executive.
- The selection follows public controversy regarding French-language proficiency in company leadership.
- Van der Werff assumes the new leadership role in January 2027.
Air Canada Appoints New Leader After Language Controversy
Air Canada named Scandinavian Airlines head Anko Van der Werff as its next president and chief executive officer on Wednesday, choosing an international veteran to guide the airline’s expansion.
The appointment follows a global search that emphasized the ability to communicate in French, a key requirement for the Montreal-based carrier. Van der Werff will succeed Michael Rousseau, who previously announced his retirement following public backlash regarding his inability to communicate in French after a fatal accident.
“I understand the importance of being able to communicate in French here in Canada,” Van der Werff said in an internal video message delivered in French. He is expected to join the company by the end of January 2027, with the airline’s executive committee managing operations during the transition.
Focus On Operational Discipline And Growth
Van der Werff brings over 25 years of international aviation experience, including leadership roles at Avianca, Aeromexico, Qatar Airways, and KLM. His background includes navigating complex financial restructurings, a skill set Air Canada’s board cited as critical for the airline’s future growth strategy.
“We are confident he will drive further value-creating growth and transformation while maintaining our commitment to disciplined capital allocation,” said Air Canada chairman Vagn Sorensen. The airline currently faces a challenging economic landscape, marked by soaring fuel costs and a significant fleet expansion that includes new orders for Airbus A321 XLR aircraft.
Industry analysts suggest Van der Werff is the right choice for rebuilding regulatory trust and operational discipline. “Having a leader that is strong and has gone through tough times himself is not necessarily a bad thing,” said Robert Kokonis, president of consulting firm AirTrav Inc.
Leadership Transition Ends Months Of Speculation
The search for Rousseau’s successor began in March after his retirement announcement, which followed a tenure increasingly overshadowed by tensions over his language skills. Rousseau, who served 19 years at the airline, drew criticism for an English-only condolence message after a deadly collision at LaGuardia Airport.
Prime Minister Mark Carney also previously expressed disappointment regarding the unilingual message, which became a focal point for national debate on language requirements for corporate leaders. Air Canada has since pledged to uphold the Official Languages Act as a core pillar of its corporate governance.
Van der Werff, who is Dutch, also speaks English, Spanish, Italian, and Swedish. He will join the company’s board of directors upon assuming his new duties, continuing the airline’s efforts to balance domestic linguistic obligations with its aggressive international growth targets.
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