SAS AB Chief Executive Officer Anko van der Werff is emerging as a likely candidate to become the next CEO of Air Canada, according to people familiar with the matter cited by multiple outlets. The reporting indicates she/he would succeed Air Canada CEO Michael Rousseau, who has said he plans to leave following a public controversy in March. Several sources link Rousseau’s departure to criticism over his omission to speak French in a corporate video. Bloomberg and the Financial Post also reference an additional “crash video debacle,” describing a situation that drew public attention and heightened scrutiny of Rousseau’s leadership. One Mile at a Time adds context, noting that Air Canada previously communicated that Rousseau would be retiring after the LaGuardia incident and accompanying controversy in Quebec about his French-language abilities during his tenure. Together, the sources describe a leadership transition at Air Canada that follows a difficult period for the airline, with van der Werff from SAS positioned as a frontrunner among potential replacements.