#Canada #Montreal #Air Canada #Anko Van Der Werff #Michael Rousseau

Air Canada's Leadership Transition: Anko Van Der Werff Takes the Helm

On July 8, 2026, Air Canada announced the appointment of Anko Van Der Werff as its next President and Chief Executive Officer, set to assume the role by the end of January 2027. Currently serving as the President and CEO of Scandinavian Airlines, Van Der Werff has been associated with Air Canada for 19 years and will succeed Michael Rousseau, who previously announced his departure.

The Chairman of Air Canada’s Board of Directors, Van Soeren, shared his thoughts, stating, “We are deeply impressed by the high caliber of experienced executives who showed interest in this position from around the world. We are excited to welcome a person of Van Der Werff's stature as the leader of Air Canada. He possesses over 25 years of established credibility and extensive experience in the international aviation sector. His visionary leadership at Scandinavian Airlines, Avianca Group, AeroMexico, as well as at KLM and Qatar Airways, speaks to his capability. We are confident that he will steer our growth and transformation while maintaining our commitment to disciplined capital allocation.”

Expressing his enthusiasm, Van Der Werff stated, “Air Canada is a leading company in the global aviation industry. It is a great honor to be chosen as the leader who will guide this iconic Canadian company as it advances towards achieving its strategy and goals while further enhancing its award-winning employee culture and customer value proposition, preparing for a brighter future. I look forward to collaborating closely with Air Canada’s talented management and all employees to fulfill our commitments to shareholders and customers. I am excited about relocating to Montreal and can’t wait to start the work.”

Chairman Soeren concluded, “The Board expresses its deep gratitude for Michael Rousseau’s outstanding leadership and significant contributions. The solid positioning of Air Canada among global airlines owes much to his accomplishments. We sincerely appreciate his past achievements and his support during this transition.”

Van Der Werff's appointment comes after a global search aimed at bringing the best-suited leader to direct Air Canada into the future. This selection process considered various evaluation criteria, including proficiency in French.

Rousseau's resignation date is set for August 31, 2026, and he will continue to oversee operations until the transition period concludes. During this time, the executive committee will report directly to the Board of Directors.

A video message from Van Der Werff in French is available for viewing.

Background of Anko Van Der Werff

Anko Van Der Werff will officially take on his role as President and CEO of Air Canada by the end of January 2027. He is a distinguished global executive with over 25 years of leadership experience in the international aviation industry, having held significant positions across Europe, Latin America, and the Middle East. Currently, he is at the helm of Scandinavian Airlines during its period of strategic renewal and transformation.

Before joining SAS in 2021, he served as CEO of Avianca Airlines, a leading airline in Latin America. His past roles include Vice President and Chief Commercial Officer (CCO) at AeroMexico, and senior leadership positions at Qatar Airways, as well as multiple management positions at KLM Royal Dutch Airlines.

Van Der Werff also served on the Board of the International Air Transport Association (IATA) until June 2026 and has participated in several international organizations across aviation, technology, and business sectors.

He holds a Master’s degree in Law from Leiden University and has completed an executive program at Harvard Business School. A native of the Netherlands, he is fluent in Dutch and can communicate in French as well. Over his global career, he has also acquired various levels of proficiency in Spanish, Italian, and Swedish.

About Air Canada

Air Canada is the largest airline in Canada and serves as the country's flag carrier, being a founding member of the Star Alliance, one of the largest airline networks globally. Based in Montreal, Air Canada operates regular flights to over 180 airports domestically, in the US, and across six continents, including international routes. The airline has also received a four-star rating from Skytrax, widely recognized for its high standards.

The Aeroplan program, developed by Air Canada, represents Canada's premier travel loyalty program, boasting over 10 million members. Members can earn and redeem points through a network of over 50 airlines, as well as numerous product, hotel, and car rental partners.

Air Canada, through Air Canada Vacations, offers a rich selection of travel products combining flights, hotels, cruises, day tours, and car rentals across hundreds of destinations worldwide, outpacing other Canadian travel agencies. The cargo division, Air Canada Cargo, utilizes both passenger and dedicated freighter aircraft to provide air cargo transport and connections to numerous destinations across six continents.

As part of its commitment to climate action, Air Canada aims to achieve net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. For more details, refer to Air Canada’s Climate-related Financial Disclosure Task Force (TCFD) report. Air Canada's stock is listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange under the ticker AC and on the OTCQX market in the US under ACDVF.