Air Canada announced that CEO Michael Rousseau will retire later this year. This decision follows public criticism stemming from his English-only message of condolence after the deaths of two pilots. The incident drew ire from francophone Canada, including top politicians, who noted Rousseau’s prior pledge to learn French. While acknowledging his contributions to the airline, the company will now undergo a leadership transition.
Air Canada announced Monday that CEO Michael Rousseau will retire by the end of the third quarter, following criticism over his English-only message of condolence after a deadly crash. Rousseau’s decision to step down comes after Prime Minister Mark Carney deemed it “appropriate” for the next CEO of the Canadian airline to be bilingual, given Canada’s official bilingual status and Air Canada’s headquarters in Quebec. The incident further highlighted past criticism of Rousseau for not speaking French, with Quebec’s premier emphasizing the need for the next leader to speak French.
After 60 years as CEO, Warren Buffett is stepping down from Berkshire Hathaway, appointing Vice Chairman Greg Abel as his successor effective year-end. This announcement, made at the company’s annual shareholder meeting, followed Buffett’s sharp criticism of President Trump’s tariffs, which he condemned as “an act of war” detrimental to global prosperity. Buffett, who built Berkshire Hathaway into a massive conglomerate, will remain involved in the company to a limited degree. His departure marks the end of an era for one of the nation’s most influential companies.
John Q. Hosedrinker