Key Takeaways:
Air Canada appointed SAS chief executive Anko Van der Werff as its next president and CEO, effective by the end of January 2027, ending a 6-month search that prioritized French-language ability.
"Our Board of Directors was impressed by the quality of experienced executives from around the world who expressed interest in the role," said Vagn Sørensen, Chair of the Board at Air Canada.
Van der Werff brings 25 years of international airline leadership across Europe, Latin America and the Middle East, including CEO roles at SAS since 2021 and Avianca, plus senior positions at Aeroméxico, Qatar Airways and KLM. He succeeds Michael Rousseau, who retires Aug. 31 after 19 years at Canada's largest carrier.
The appointment follows Rousseau's March controversy, when he released an English-only statement after a fatal Air Canada Express crash at LaGuardia, drawing criticism from Quebec officials and Prime Minister Mark Carney. The board explicitly weighed French-language ability in its search criteria.
Van der Werff's departure leaves a leadership gap at SAS as the carrier transitions to Air France-KLM control, just days after announcing a $10 billion-plus widebody fleet order, the largest in its 80-year history.
The Dutch native speaks six languages including French, Spanish, Italian and Swedish. He holds a master's degree in law from Leiden University and completed executive studies at Harvard Business School. He served on the IATA Board of Governors until June 2026.
Air Canada, a founding member of the Star Alliance, serves more than 180 airports across six continents and holds a Four-Star Skytrax ranking. Its Aeroplan loyalty program has more than 10 million members. The carrier has set a long-term goal of net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050.
This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute investment advice.
