Embattled Air Canada President and CEO Michael Rousseau will retire later this year, the carrier announced on Monday.
Rousseau, who has led Canada’s largest airline since 2021, faced intense criticism last week after speaking almost entirely in English in a video statement on the collision of an Air Canada regional jet and a fire truck at LaGuardia Airport. The message, which provided details about the accident and extended the carrier’s sympathies to those killed and injured, included only two words in French – “bonjour” at the beginning of the statement, and “merci” at the end.
The near exclusion of French – one of the country’s two official languages, spoken by around 8 million Canadians – was slammed on social media, and by elected officials, including Prime Minister Mark Carney and lawmakers from Quebec.
According to CBC, Rousseau was summoned to Ottawa to explain the statement.
Air Canada later said that Rousseau’s “ability to speak French does not allow him to convey such a sensitive message as effectively as he would have liked in that language.”
Rousseau will retire by the end of the third quarter of this year. He has agreed to remain available to the airline to ensure a “seamless and smooth transition,” officials said.
In a news release, Vagn Sørensen, chair of the board of directors, thanked Rousseau for his contributions to the company, including during his previous tenure as CFO and deputy CEO.
“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,” Sørensen said.
In regard to succession planning, Air Canada said it has spent over two years developing “high potential executives” for leadership posts. It also launched an external global search for potential CEO candidates in January.
The board will take into account a number of different factors when selecting a new chief executive, officials said, including the ability to communicate in French. Consulting firms Egon Zehnder and Korn Ferry are assisting in the search.
“It has been my great honor 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,” Rousseau said in a statement. “I look forward to supporting our company during this important transition period.”
Rousseau’s lack of French has been criticized before, but not to the extent seen last week. In 2021, he said he did not need to speak French to get by in Montreal, where Air Canada has its headquarters.
