Full Breakdown
Air Canada Names SAS Chief Anko van der Werff as New CEO Amid French-Language Concerns
7/10/2026, 1:53:19 PM
Core Appointment
Air Canada announced that Anko van der Werff, the Dutch-born chief executive of Scandinavian Airlines (SAS), will become president and chief executive officer on or before 31 January 2027. He succeeds Michael Rousseau, who will retire at the end of August after a 19-year tenure.
Background & Context
Rousseau’s departure follows a March 2024 controversy in which an English-only condolence video after the LaGuardia crash of an Air Canada Express CRJ900 drew criticism from Quebec officials and Prime Minister Mark Carney. Under federal law, Air Canada must provide services in both English and French, a requirement amplified by the airline’s Montreal headquarters and Quebec’s language-rights history.
Key Figures
- Anko van der Werff – CEO of SAS since 2021, former chief executive of Avianca, and senior leader at Aeroméxico, Qatar Airways and KLM.
- Michael Rousseau – Outgoing Air Canada CEO whose limited French proficiency became a political flashpoint.
- Vagn Sørensen – Chair of Air Canada’s board, former Air Canada executive.
- Mark Carney – Canadian prime minister who publicly stressed the need for bilingual leadership.
Data & Statistics
- Air Canada’s share price trades at roughly half its pre-pandemic level.
- SAS achieved an on-time performance of 86 % in 2025, the world’s third-best, while Air Canada ranked ninth at 73 % that year.
- Van der Werff oversaw SAS’s restructuring of US$2 billion of debt and a 15-day pilot strike before returning the carrier to profitability.
Official Statements & Responses
Air Canada’s press release emphasized that the “comprehensive global search” considered “the ability to communicate in French” among other performance criteria. The board highlighted Van der Werff’s “exceptional breadth of international aviation experience” and his commitment to “disciplined capital allocation.” In a video interview, Van der Werff said he understands the importance of speaking French to employees, clients and partners.
Criticism & Opposition
Francophone groups and Quebec politicians expressed disappointment that the new chief is not a native French speaker, fearing the appointment could repeat Rousseau’s language missteps. Unions noted that internal candidates such as chief commercial officer Mark Galardo and chief operations officer Mark Nasr were bypassed, raising questions about continuity versus a “turnaround” agenda.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
Air Canada describes Van der Werff as “able to communicate in French,” while earlier commentary labeled his French as “basic” or “limited.” No independent language-assessment has been published, leaving the extent of his proficiency unclear.
Verbatim Quotes
- “Here’s what Van der Werff had to say about his new role: “Air Canada is a globally recognized airline leader.” — Anko van der Werff
- “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.” — Anko van der Werff
- “Our Board of Directors was impressed by the quality of experienced executives from around the world who expressed interest in the role. We are delighted to have attracted and recruited an executive of Mr. Van der Werff’s stature to lead Air Canada. He has an exceptional breadth of international aviation experience and a proven 25-year track record, including his most recent forward-looking executive leadership at Scandinavian Airlines, Avianca Group, and Aeroméxico and earlier at KLM Royal Dutch Airlines (now Air France-KLM) and Qatar Airways. We are confident he will drive further value-creating growth and transformation while maintaining our commitment to disciplined capital allocation.” — Vagn Sørensen
- “We are confident he will drive further value-creating growth and transformation while maintaining our commitment to disciplined capital allocation.” — Vagn Sørensen
- “Companies like Air Canada, particularly, have a responsibility to always communicate in both official languages regardless of the situation. I’m very disappointed.” — Mark Carney
Why It Matters
The appointment tests Air Canada’s ability to meet bilingual obligations while pursuing a financial turnaround. Success could restore shareholder confidence and stabilize the carrier’s brand; failure may reignite political pressure and erode customer trust, especially in Quebec.
What’s Next
Van der Werff will assume his duties by the end of January 2027, and SAS has begun searching for his successor. Air Canada’s board will monitor the new CEO’s progress on French communication, on-time performance, and capital-allocation strategy throughout 2027.
