Photo: AIR CANADA Air Canada announced today (March 30) that its CEO, Michael Rousseau, is expected to retire by the end of the third quarter of 2026, after a career spanning nearly two decades with the company.
According to the board of directors' announcement, Rousseau will continue to serve as CEO and board member until his retirement, in order to ensure a smooth transition to the next management.
At the same time, the company has already begun a process to find a replacement, which includes developing internal candidates and an international external search that will open in early 2026. As part of the examination, management experience and communication skills in French will be tested, among other things, key requirements for leading Canada's national airline.
The Chairman of the Board of Directors, Vagn Sørensen, noted that Rousseau led the company through challenging times:
"We are grateful for the determined leadership he has provided not only in steering our company through the 2007-2008 financial crisis, COVID and other challenges, but also in capturing opportunities such as the acquisition of Aeroplan, in restoring the solvency of our pension plans and in advancing customer centricity and employee well-being priorities."
Rousseau himself said: “It has been my great honour to work with the dedicated and talented people of Air Canada and to represent our outstanding organization, including as chair of the Star Alliance chief executive board and on the board of directors of the International Air Transport Association. I look forward to supporting our company during this important transition period.”
Air Canada, Canada's largest airline and a founding member of the Star Alliance, operates flights to more than 180 destinations worldwide, and is a major player in the international aviation market.