Air Canada names Anko Van der Werff as next CEO

Air Canada announced that Anko Van der Werff will become its next President and Chief Executive Officer, and a member of the board, by the end of January 2027, according to a press release from the company.

Van der Werff currently serves as President and CEO of Scandinavian Airlines (SAS). Prior to that role, which he assumed in 2021, he served as CEO of Avianca, Executive Vice President and Chief Commercial Officer at Aeromexico, and held senior positions at Qatar Airways and KLM Royal Dutch Airlines.

Van der Werff holds a master's degree in law from Leiden University and completed executive studies at Harvard Business School. He speaks Dutch, French, English, Spanish, Italian, and Swedish.

He succeeds Michael Rousseau, whose retirement is effective August 31, 2026. Rousseau spent 19 years with Air Canada. During the transition period between his departure and Van der Werff's start date, the Executive Committee will report to the Board of Directors.

"We are delighted to have attracted and recruited an executive of Mr. Van der Werff's stature to lead Air Canada," said Vagn Sørensen, Chair of the Board, citing Van der Werff's 25-year track record in international aviation.

Air Canada shares are publicly traded on the Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX: AC).

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