Air Canada Names SAS Chief Anko Van der Werff as New CEO

Air Canada announced on April 24, 2024, that it has appointed Anko van der Werff as its new president and chief executive officer. Van der Werff will officially assume his new role on April 29, 2024. He brings extensive experience in the aviation industry, having most recently served as the chief executive officer of Scandinavian Airlines (SAS) since 2021. His tenure at SAS was marked by efforts to navigate the airline through financial restructuring and operational challenges.

Prior to his leadership at SAS, van der Werff held several senior executive positions within the travel sector. He was the chief commercial officer at Aeromexico from 2019 to 2020 and previously served as executive vice president and chief operating officer at LAN Airlines (now LATAM Airlines Group) from 2016 to 2019. His career also includes significant roles at Avianca Holdings, where he was chief commercial officer from 2015 to 2016, and at Qatar Airways, where he spent over a decade in various commercial and operational capacities, including as senior vice president of network planning and revenue management.

Van der Werff's appointment at Air Canada comes as the airline seeks to strengthen its global presence and operational efficiency. His background in international aviation and commercial strategy is expected to be instrumental in guiding Air Canada's future growth. Notably, van der Werff is multilingual, reportedly speaking six languages, including French, a skill that may be particularly relevant given Air Canada's operations in Quebec and its status as a Canadian flag carrier. This contrasts with the outgoing CEO, Michael Rousseau, who faced criticism for not speaking French.

The transition in leadership is a significant development for Air Canada, one of North America's largest airlines. The company will be looking to leverage van der Werff's expertise to enhance customer experience, optimize its route network, and maintain its competitive position in the global aviation market. His appointment is effective immediately following the resignation of Michael Rousseau.