Air Canada is set to appoint Anko van der Werff as its next chief executive, according to multiple reports. The selection follows criticism of the company’s previous CEO, Michael Rousseau, who will retire. Rousseau faced backlash in connection with a largely English condolence video released after a March crash, drawing widespread criticism for language use. Reporting also indicates that the company’s leadership criteria for the new role explicitly include the ability to speak French. Van der Werff is described as fluent in French, and the appointment is framed as aligning Air Canada’s CEO profile with bilingual expectations, particularly in Quebec.
While some analysis characterizes the controversy as tied to broader political and organizational dynamics beyond individual language ability, all accounts agree that Rousseau’s departure is connected to the public language backlash and that the new CEO is chosen in part for meeting French-language expectations. Air Canada will transition to van der Werff as CEO following Rousseau’s retirement, as reported.
