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Wow: SAS CEO Anko Van Der Werff Quits, Will Become Next Air Canada CEO
One Mile at a Time • • business
Key Points:
- Air Canada CEO Michael Rousseau is retiring following criticism over his lack of French fluency and visibility during his tenure, leading to speculation about his successor.
- Scandinavian Airlines (SAS) CEO Anko Van der Werff, with extensive international aviation experience but only basic French skills, has been confirmed as the new Air Canada CEO, starting by January 2027.
- Van der Werff is expected to lead a financial turnaround and transformation at Air Canada, focusing on growth and disciplined capital allocation amid the airline’s stock trading well below pre-pandemic levels.
- His appointment marks a significant shift as Air Canada typically promotes from within, raising questions about internal reception and potential management restructuring.
- The choice of a non-fluent French speaker as CEO contradicts Air Canada’s stated criteria emphasizing French communication skills, highlighting the airline’s prioritization of financial and strategic transformation over language proficiency.
