Air Canada (TSX:AC.B) has appointed Scandinavian Airlines (SAS) president and CEO Anko Van der Werff as its next president and CEO, with the aviation executive set to assume the role and join the airline's board by the end of January 2027.
Van der Werff will succeed Michael Rousseau, whose retirement takes effect on August 31, after 19 years with Air Canada (TSX:AC.B). Rousseau will remain available during the transition period, after which the airline's Executive Committee will report to the Board until Van der Werff takes office.
Air Canada (TSX:AC.B) said the selection process assessed several performance criteria, including the ability to communicate in French.
Rousseau announced his retirement earlier this year following controversy over his response to a fatal incident involving Air Canada (TSX:AC.B) pilots at New York's LaGuardia Airport, after criticism that he did not initially offer condolences in French.
Air Canada board chair Vagn Sørensen said the airline was pleased to appoint an executive with more than 25 years of international aviation experience.
"Our Board of Directors was impressed by the quality of experienced executives from around the world who expressed interest in the role," Sørensen said. "We are delighted to have attracted and recruited an executive of Mr. Van der Werff's stature to lead Air Canada."
Sørensen added that Van der Werff's experience at SAS, Avianca Group, Aeroméxico, KLM Royal Dutch Airlines and Qatar Airways positions him to lead the airline's next phase of growth and transformation.
Van der Werff said he was honoured to lead the Canadian carrier and looked forward to relocating to Montreal.
"Air Canada is a globally recognized airline leader. It is an honour to be chosen to lead this iconic Canadian company as it advances its ambitions and strategy, builds on its award-winning employee culture and customer value proposition, and prepares for an even brighter future," he said.
Prior to joining Air Canada, Van der Werff served as CEO of SAS, where he led the airline through a period of restructuring and strategic renewal after joining in 2021. Earlier in his career, he held senior leadership roles at Avianca, Aeroméxico, Qatar Airways and KLM Royal Dutch Airlines. He also served on the Board of Governors of the International Air Transport Association until June 2026.
Van der Werff, a native of the Netherlands, speaks Dutch, English and French, as well as Spanish, Italian and Swedish at varying levels.
Shares of Air Canada traded lower following the announcement, down about 4% C$24.