Why Michael Rousseau is stepping down as Air Canada’s CEO

Michael Rousseau has announced he will be stepping down as Air Canada’s CEO by the end of the company’s third quarter this year.

Michael recently faced calls to resign from the company’s leadership position after failing to deliver a condolence video in both English and French.

The video was published in response to a fatal collision that took the lives of two Air Canada pilots at LaGuardia Airport on 22 March. The pilots were named as Mackenzie Gunther and Antoine Forest, a French Canadian.

Following pressure and calls to resign from lawmakers, Michael apologised and said he was unable to express himself “adequately” in French, Canada’s official second language.

Announcing his retirement on 30 March, Michael says: "It has been my great honour to work with the dedicated and talented people of Air Canada and to represent our outstanding organization.

“I look forward to supporting our company during this important transition period,” he adds.

Leadership responsibility

Michael’s English-only condolence video drew sharp criticism from Canadian politicians, including Prime Minister Mark Carney who said Michael showed a “lack of compassion” for French speakers and that “companies like Air Canada particularly have a responsibility to always communicate in both official languages”.

Quebec Premier François Legault mirrored Carney’s response and suggested that Michael should step down as CEO if he is unable to speak French.

Following the video’s release, Michael was summoned by Canada’s parliamentary Committee on Official Languages to “explain himself” before MPs.

In addition, other Quebec politicians announced a motion to demand Michael resign from the position and that the next CEO of Air Canada should be proficient in the French language.

The motion passed with 92 for it and none against it. One person abstained.

Politicians added that Michael had a “lack of respect for the French language, Quebec families in mourning, and all francophones across the province”.

Following the public scrutiny, in a written statement released in both English and French, Michael apologised saying: “I am deeply saddened that my inability to speak French has diverted attention from the profound grief of the families and the great resilience of Air Canada’s employees.”

He added that his French remains weak “despite many lessons over the years” and that he is continuing his efforts to improve.

Plans for succession

Michael was appointed as CEO of Air Canada in February 2021 after serving as deputy CEO and CFO.

He faced a similar controversy shortly after being appointed to head of the company, after suggesting he didn’t need to know French to serve as CEO.

Following his official announcement to resign, Air Canada Board Chair Vagn Sorensen expresses his thanks to Michael for his contributions to the airline.

“We are grateful for the determined leadership he has provided,” Vagn adds. “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.”

On the subject of Michael’s successor, the company states that it will “consider a number of performance criteria in assessing candidates including the ability to communicate in French.”