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Air Canada Appoints Anko Van der Werff as New CEO

Published July 8, 2026 at 1:13 PM UTC

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Air Canada has announced that Anko Van der Werff will become its President and Chief Executive Officer by the end of January 2027. Van der Werff, currently the CEO of Scandinavian Airlines (SAS), will succeed Michael Rousseau, who has announced his retirement after 19 years with Air Canada. The appointment follows a comprehensive global search for a leader with extensive international aviation experience. Van der Werff brings over 25 years of experience, having held leadership roles at Avianca Group, Aeroméxico, KLM Royal Dutch Airlines, and Qatar Airways. He holds a master's degree in law from Leiden University and has completed executive studies at Harvard Business School. Van der Werff is fluent in Dutch, English, and French, and has proficiency in Spanish, Italian, and Swedish. He expressed his honor in leading Air Canada and looks forward to working with the executive team and employees to fulfill commitments to shareholders and customers. Rousseau's retirement is effective August 31, 2026, and he will remain available during the transition period. The Board of Directors expressed gratitude for Rousseau's leadership and contributions over nearly two decades.