Air Canada’s president and CEO, Michael Rousseau, is set to retire in the fall after a tenure of nearly two decades with the airline. This announcement comes shortly after his English-only message of condolence following the tragic crash of Flight 8646 in New York. An airline spokesperson mentioned that Rousseau’s retirement aligns with the company’s CEO succession planning process, which has been ongoing internally for over two years.
In an internal communication to employees, Rousseau expressed pride in representing the airline but acknowledged that the time had come for his retirement. He will continue to lead the company and serve on its board of directors until the end of the third quarter.
The fatal incident involving Air Canada Flight 8646, which resulted in the loss of two pilots and injuries to many others, occurred when the flight collided with a fire truck upon landing at LaGuardia airport after departing from Montreal.
Following criticism for delivering condolences predominantly in English, Rousseau issued a video expressing condolences to the victims’ families the next day. The focus on English in the message drew ire, especially considering that one of the deceased pilots, Capt. Antoine Forest, was a francophone from Quebec, where Air Canada is headquartered and bilingual communication is mandated for employees.
Political figures, including Prime Minister Mark Carney, Bloc Québécois Leader Yves-François Blanchet, and Quebec Premier François Legault, were quick to comment on Rousseau’s language choice, with some calling for his resignation. On the other hand, some individuals, like former Alberta premier Jason Kenney, defended Rousseau, emphasizing the importance of safety and service reliability over language concerns.
Rousseau later apologized for his language limitations and the distraction they caused from the mourning process, admitting his ongoing struggle to communicate effectively in French despite years of effort. The situation escalated as Rousseau faced calls for resignation, appearances before committees, and a surge of complaints about his language competence.
This incident is not the first time Rousseau has faced criticism for his French proficiency. A previous speech delivered mainly in English in Montreal had also sparked controversy, prompting calls for improvement in his French language skills.
With Rousseau’s retirement imminent, the focus shifts to his successor and the importance of French proficiency in the selection process, as highlighted by John Gradek, an aviation management expert at McGill University. The pressure from political figures at both provincial and federal levels played a significant role in Rousseau’s decision to retire sooner than expected.