Calin Rovinescu has served as President and Chief Executive Officer of Air Canada since April 1, 2009. From 2000-2004, he served as the airline’s Executive Vice President, Corporate Development and Strategy and as its Chief Restructuring Officer.
Mr. Rovinescu is credited with saving Air Canada from bankruptcy and setting it on a course for sustained profitability, improved labour relations, improved customer service and commercial success. Since his appointment in 2009, Air Canada’s shares have appreciated by over 6,000%. The airline has achieved record revenues and profitability, and carried record numbers of passengers.
During Mr. Rovinescu’s 10 year tenure, Air Canada has been recognized as the Skytrax Best Airline in North America eight times and has won numerous other awards, including Air Transport World’s 2018 Eco Airline of the Year and Global Traveller’s 2019 Airline of the Year.
The Globe and Mail’s Report on Business magazine named Mr. Rovinescu CEO of the Year in 2013 and again in 2019. In 2016, he was named Canada’s Outstanding CEO of the Year. Flight Global presented Mr. Rovinescu with the Global Executive Leadership Award in 2018.
Between 2004 and 2009, Mr. Rovinescu was a co-founder and principal of Genuity Capital Markets, an independent investment bank. Prior to 2000, he was Managing Partner of Stikeman Elliott, where he practiced corporate law for over 20 years.
Mr. Rovinescu has served as Chair of Star Alliance, the world’s largest airline alliance, and as Chair of the International Air Transport Association. He is a member of the Board of Directors of BCE Inc. and the Business Council of Canada and serves as Chancellor of the University of Ottawa.
He was appointed a member of the Order of Canada in 2018 for promoting various charitable causes and organizations, and for spearheading humanitarian relief following several natural disasters.
