Air Canada Names Anko Van der Werff as New President and CEO Amid Language Controversy The appointment of Anko Van der Werff as Air Canada's president and CEO is seen as a welcome change from his predecessor, Michael Rousseau.
Rousseau's departure was precipitated by controversy over his use of English in a condolence message following the LaGuardia airport crash.
Air Canada's decision to prioritize a leader who can speak French reflects its commitment to Canada's bilingual heritage.