Air Canada’s president and CEO, Michael Rousseau, will retire in the fall after nearly two decades with the airline. This decision aligns with the company’s long-standing succession planning process, which has been ongoing internally for over two years, according to an airline spokesperson. Rousseau, in an internal communication to employees obtained by Radio-Canada, expressed pride in his tenure with the airline but acknowledged that the time had come for him to step down. He will continue to lead the company and serve on its board of directors until the end of the third quarter.
The retirement announcement follows a recent incident where Flight 8646, departing from Montreal, tragically collided with a fire truck at LaGuardia airport, resulting in the loss of two pilots and injuries to several others. Rousseau initially offered condolences to the victims’ families through a video, which sparked controversy due to being predominantly in English, despite Air Canada’s policy requiring bilingual communication.
Politicians, including Prime Minister Mark Carney and Bloc Québécois Leader Yves-François Blanchet, criticized Rousseau for the language choice in his condolence message. Quebec Premier François Legault called for Rousseau’s resignation, which was met with mixed reactions from various political figures. Rousseau later issued an apology, acknowledging his inability to speak French adequately, but the gesture was deemed insufficient by many.
Rousseau’s lack of French proficiency had drawn previous criticism, with calls for improvement dating back to 2021. Now, with his impending retirement, analysts anticipate that Air Canada will prioritize selecting a bilingual CEO following the recent controversy. The timing of Rousseau’s retirement announcement, amid political pressure at both provincial and federal levels, underscores the significance of language proficiency for leadership roles within the company.