Air Canada announced Wednesday, July 8, 2026, that Anko van der Werff, president and chief executive of Scandinavian Airlines (SAS), will become the carrier’s next president and CEO — a rare move for a Montreal-based company that has historically promoted from within. Van der Werff is expected to join Air Canada and its board of directors by the end of January 2027.
He succeeds Michael Rousseau, who will retire effective August 31, 2026, after 19 years with the airline, five of them as chief executive. During the transition period, Air Canada’s executive committee will report directly to the board of directors, with Rousseau remaining available to support the handover, the Canadian Press reported.
Why Air Canada looked outside for its next leader
Air Canada said the appointment followed a comprehensive global search that evaluated candidates against a range of performance criteria, including the ability to communicate in French. Van der Werff, a Dutch native who has led SAS since 2021 and previously served as CEO of Colombian carrier Avianca, brings more than 25 years of international airline leadership across Europe, Latin America and the Middle East. He also held senior commercial roles at Qatar Airways and Aeroméxico, and management positions at KLM Royal Dutch Airlines, according to the Canadian Press.