Air Canada has announced that Anko Van der Werff, currently President and CEO of Scandinavian Airlines, will become its next President and Chief Executive Officer.
Mr Van der Werff succeeds Michael Rousseau, who announced his retirement recently after 19 years with the national carrier. The new boss takes up his role in January next year.
Vagn Sørensen, Air Canada Board Chair, said they were delighted to have attracted an executive of Mr Van der Werff’s stature.
“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 Aeromexico,” Mr Sørensen said.
Mr Van der Werff said he was honoured to be chosen to lead the Canadian carrier.
“I look forward to working closely with Air Canada’s talented executive team and with all employees to fulfil our commitments to shareholders and customers. I am excited about relocating to Montréal and eager to get started,” Mr Van der Werff said.
Mr Van der Werff brings more than 25 years of international airline leadership across Europe, Latin America and the Middle East, having previously served as CEO of Avianca, Executive Vice President and Chief Commercial Officer at Aeromexico.
He also held senior commercial roles at Qatar Airways and KLM Royal Dutch Airlines.
He holds a master’s degree in law from Leiden University and completed executive studies at Harvard Business School.
