Air Canada’s next chief executive is expected to be chosen after a difficult period for the airline, with SAS AB CEO Anko van der Werff emerging as a frontrunner, according to people familiar with the matter. The reported succession would involve replacing Michael Rousseau, who previously said in March that he would step down after facing a public backlash. That backlash followed an incident tied to a corporate video in which Rousseau did not speak French, drawing criticism and contributing to calls for change.
The reports describe van der Werff as a leading candidate but do not provide further confirmation of the final decision or timing. They also do not detail the selection process or whether other candidates are being considered. Collectively, the sources focus on the leadership transition at Air Canada and the trigger for Rousseau’s planned departure, framing it in the context of an airline dealing with operational and market pressures over the past year.
