Michael Rousseau to Retire
Mar 30, 2026 | 6:05 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Nov 2018
Location: Vancouver
Programs: AC SE100K 1MM, FB Platinum, Bonvoy Platinum Elite, Hilton Gold
Posts: 2,128
Michael Rousseau to Retire
There was an announcement that came across Bloomberg TV that Roussea is to retire. Found an announcement on the following:
https://www.streetinsider.com/Corpor...is%20departure.
https://www.streetinsider.com/Corpor...is%20departure.
Mar 30, 2026 | 6:10 am
#2
Join Date: May 2018
Location: YYZ
Programs: AC SE, GHA Titanium, Bonvoy Gold, Hertz PC, Sixt Platinum
Posts: 75
Michael Rousseau to Retire
As indicated in PR. He will retire by end of 3Q.
Who will succeed him - Mark?
https://www.streetinsider.com/dr/news.php?id=26237454&gfv=1
Who will succeed him - Mark?
https://www.streetinsider.com/dr/news.php?id=26237454&gfv=1
Mar 30, 2026 | 6:30 am
#5
Join Date: Jan 2016
Location: YYZ
Programs: Marriott Bonvoy, Air Canada
Posts: 6,681
The right person should be someone in United or Delta, but the French requirement is gonna cross those folks off
Mar 30, 2026 | 6:32 am
#6
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: YYC
Programs: AC SE, spouse SE (MM), National Emerald, various hotel programs
Posts: 450
Straight from the horse's mouth Air Canada Board of Directors announces the retirement of President and Chief Executive Officer
Mar 30, 2026 | 6:41 am
#7
Join Date: Jun 2023
Location: YYZ
Programs: Air Canada Aeroplan
Posts: 395
If he can say even just one additional word than "Bonjour", that will be a huge improvement. LOL
Here's the official releases, in both languages of course!
Here's the official releases, in both languages of course!
Mar 30, 2026 | 7:10 am
#9
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: YOW
Programs: AC P(easant)25K
Posts: 1,252
The Board will consider a number of performance criteria in assessing candidates including the ability to communicate in French.
However, I'd consider other skills more relevant to the role itself, i.e. the ability to lead a company is more important than being able to speak French (that's the Comms and PR teams' job to ensure the message is communicated to all audiences).
The Federal government's official language policy has heavily in favour of hiring Francophone over other competencies.
Often times people with the "right" language profile get parachuted in position they are unqualified for solely because of their ability to speak French and they couldn't find someone with relevant skills that could speak French.
Mar 30, 2026 | 7:19 am
#10
Join Date: Jan 2016
Location: YYZ
Programs: Marriott Bonvoy, Air Canada
Posts: 6,681
As a national company, being able to speak both official language is an asset for sure.
However, I'd consider other skills more relevant to the role itself, i.e. the ability to lead a company is more important than being able to speak French (that's the Comms and PR teams' job to ensure the message is communicated to all audiences).
The Federal government's official language policy has heavily in favour of hiring Francophone over other competencies.
Often times people with the "right" language profile get parachuted in position they are unqualified for solely because of their ability to speak French and they couldn't find someone with relevant skills that could speak French.
However, I'd consider other skills more relevant to the role itself, i.e. the ability to lead a company is more important than being able to speak French (that's the Comms and PR teams' job to ensure the message is communicated to all audiences).
The Federal government's official language policy has heavily in favour of hiring Francophone over other competencies.
Often times people with the "right" language profile get parachuted in position they are unqualified for solely because of their ability to speak French and they couldn't find someone with relevant skills that could speak French.
I don't recall current ceo of Scotiabank or RBC or TD speak French.
The simplist solution is move AC hq to Toronto... which is AC largest market anyways.
An airline ceo should measured on :
- Operations (OTP, Cancelation)
- Financial performance
- Hard and soft products
- Labor relations
- Long term strategy
Mar 30, 2026 | 7:20 am
#11
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: Toronto, ON, CANADA
Programs: AC SE100K, Marriott Bonvoy LTE
Posts: 1,939
Has everyone forgotten his gaffe with admitting to Section 107 being one of the main considerations during FA bargaining? Maybe the government wanted him out as well, but instead of using that, another opportunity came up to push the board to act on a quicker timeline instead?
Mar 30, 2026 | 7:21 am
#12
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: YYZ
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https://www.aircanada.com/media/john-di-bert/
Based on Nasr's less than stellar communications performance during the strike, he doesn't really come off as seasoned enough to be CEO and deal with Bay St.
Straight from the horse's mouth Air Canada Board of Directors announces the retirement of President and Chief Executive Officer
Last edited by Adam Smith; Mar 30, 2026 at 9:08 am Reason: Merge consecutive posts by same user
Mar 30, 2026 | 7:25 am
#13
Join Date: Mar 2001
Location: Toronto, ON
Programs: AC 75K
Posts: 6,636
Based on their history of loving Bean Counters, John Di Bert may have the inside track.
https://www.aircanada.com/media/john-di-bert/
Based on Nasr's less than stellar communications performance during the strike, he doesn't really come off as seasoned enough to be CEO and deal with Bay St.
https://www.aircanada.com/media/john-di-bert/
Based on Nasr's less than stellar communications performance during the strike, he doesn't really come off as seasoned enough to be CEO and deal with Bay St.
Last edited by Adam Smith; Mar 30, 2026 at 9:08 am Reason: Merge consecutive posts by same user
Mar 30, 2026 | 7:31 am
#14
Join Date: Jan 2016
Location: YYZ
Programs: Marriott Bonvoy, Air Canada
Posts: 6,681
We are a clown country if selection of CEO is dependent on candidate's ability to speak French. Does the ex head of IAG Willie Walsh(which owns Iberia) speak Spanish? Does Air France-KLM ceo speak Dutch?
Last edited by Jumper Jack; Mar 31, 2026 at 4:43 am
Mar 30, 2026 | 7:33 am
#15
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: YOW
Programs: AC P(easant)25K
Posts: 1,252
Why would national company ceo speak French be treated as an asset?
I don't recall current ceo of Scotiabank or RBC or TD speak French.
The simplist solution is move AC hq to Toronto... which is AC largest market anyways.
An airline ceo should measured on :
- Operations (OTP, Cancelation)
- Financial performance
- Hard and soft products
- Labor relations
- Long term strategy
I don't recall current ceo of Scotiabank or RBC or TD speak French.
The simplist solution is move AC hq to Toronto... which is AC largest market anyways.
An airline ceo should measured on :
- Operations (OTP, Cancelation)
- Financial performance
- Hard and soft products
- Labor relations
- Long term strategy
It's an "asset" but it should never be the a factor to over look other qualifications (like it has been in GoC's hiring policy), it should only be a "tiebreaker".
If all things being equal but only A speaks French and B doesn't, I won't object A being chosen over B.