Michael Rousseau, the President and CEO of Air Canada, has been appointed as the new Chairperson of the Star Alliance Chief Executive Board (CEB). He takes over from Scott Kirby, the CEO of United Airlines, who has held the position since December 2020.
Upon assuming his new responsibilities, Mr. Rousseau expressed his enthusiasm, stating, “I am eager to collaborate with the board over the next two years to advance our efforts in providing a seamless customer experience. At Star Alliance, we are dedicated to the vision of a world that is effortlessly connected, and I encourage every member of our Alliance to join me in realizing this vision by 2025 and beyond.”
In his capacity as Chairperson of the largest airline alliance globally, Mr. Rousseau will oversee the two annual board meetings and act as the spokesperson for the board, steering the strategic direction of the Alliance, which comprises 25 member airlines from around the world.
Star Alliance CEO Theo Panagiotoulias congratulated Mr. Rousseau on his new role, stating, “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.”
Star Alliance’s governing body, known as the CEB, is composed of the CEOs from each of the 25 member airlines, who collectively establish the strategic direction for the organization.