Star Alliance Elects Air Canada CEO as Chairperson

DALLAS — The next Chairperson of the Star Alliance the Executive Board (CEB) is president and CEO of Air Canada (AC) Michael Rousseau.

Rousseau takes over for Scott Kirby, who has been United Airlines' (UA) CEO since December 2020. In his new position as CEB Chairperson of the world's largest airline alliance, Mr. Rousseau will chair the two yearly board meetings and act as the board's spokesperson, directing the Alliance's strategic course with 25 member airlines worldwide.

Air Canada appointed Michael Rousseau as its president and CEO in February 2021. In addition to his ongoing duties for the airline's overall financial strategic direction and associated functions since 2007, when he was appointed Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, he had been serving since January 2019 as Deputy CEO and Chief Financial Officer, adding oversight over a number of important corporate initiatives and businesses, including Air Canada Rouge.

In his previous positions, Mr. Rousseau contributed significantly and strategically to the successful transformation of the Canadian flag carrier during a ten-year period.

Established on May 14, 1997, it was the first worldwide airline alliance in history. The CEB is the Alliance's governing body and establishes the overall strategic direction. The CEO of each of the 25 member airlines is represented on the CEB. The headquarters of the airline alliance Star Alliance are located in Frankfurt am Main, Germany.

Comments from Star Alliance Officials

Assuming the role as the Chairperson, Mr. Rousseau said, "I am looking forward to working with the board over the next two years to continue our progressive work in delivering a seamless customer experience. At Star Alliance, we are committed to the vision of an effortlessly connected world, and I invite every member of our Alliance to join me in making this vision a reality in 2025 and beyond."

Congratulating Mr. Rousseau on the appointment, Star Alliance CEO Theo Panagiotoulias said, "I am delighted to welcome Michael Rousseau, one of the most seasoned CEOs on the board, as the new Chairperson and look forward to working closely with him as we bring the renewed vision of the Alliance to fruition. I also extend my heartfelt gratitude to Scott Kirby for his guidance and support to Star Alliance during his successful four-year term."

‍