Leadership News

Bloomberg • Mathieu Dion, Siddharth Philip

SAS CEO Anko van der Werff emerges as Air Canada candidate after Rousseau exit tied to French-language backlash

SAS CEO Anko van der Werff is emerging as a frontrunner to lead Air Canada, sources say, as Michael Rousseau prepares to step down after a public backlash over his omission to speak French in a corporate video. The leadership change could reshape Air Canada’s cultural and communications priorities.

1 Source

2026-07-02T08:16:22.860926-07:00

Cranky Flier

Hawaiian’s CEO Diana Birkett Rakow maps future brand positioning and fleet priorities as the carrier joins oneworld

1 Source

2026-07-02T04:00:05.942160-07:00

Reuters

Joby and Toyota set up an eVTOL manufacturing joint venture, with Toyota as majority owner and a target of ~500 air taxis per ye

26 Sources

2026-06-30T07:45:00.759421-07:00

Bloomberg

White House order and FAA NPRM target a new path for overland U.S. supersonic flight via a sonic-boom–based noise standard

9 Sources

2026-06-30T09:29:59.196636-07:00

Executive Appointments & Leadership Moves News Timeline

Bloomberg

None source

Russia's High-Stakes Bid to Chase SpaceX Stumbles Out of the Gate

2026-07-02T14:15:32.166451-07:00

Russia's High-Stakes Bid to Ch

Bloomberg

1 source

SAS CEO Anko van der Werff emerges as Air Canada candidate after Rousseau exit tied to French-language backlash SAS CEO Anko van der Werff is emerging as a frontrunner to lead Air Canada, sources say, as Michael Rousseau prepares to step down after a public backlash over his omission to speak French in a corporate video. The leadership change could reshape Air Canada’s cultural and communications priorities.

2026-07-02T08:16:22.860926-07:00

SAS CEO Anko van der Werff emerges as Air Canada candidate after Rousseau exit tied to French-language backlash

Cranky Flier

1 source

Hawaiian’s CEO Diana Birkett Rakow maps future brand positioning and fleet priorities as the carrier joins oneworld Hawaiian celebrated its oneworld entry on O‘ahu, underscoring a new commercial chapter for the airline. In an interview, CEO Diana Birkett Rakow discussed how Hawaiian plans to evolve its future brand and fleet strategy in support of its oneworld integration.

2026-07-02T04:00:05.942160-07:00

Hawaiian’s CEO Diana Birkett Rakow maps future brand positioning and fleet priorities as the carrier joins oneworld

Inflight Online

3 sources

RECARO Aircraft Seating appoints Andreas Erber as CTO and Executive Board member (effective September 2026) RECARO Aircraft Seating has named Luft- und Raumfahrtingenieur Andreas Erber as chief technology officer, effective 1 September 2026. The appointment places him in charge of the company’s innovation and development activities, with the role also adding a seat on the executive board.

2026-07-01T02:30:40.848104-07:00

RECARO Aircraft Seating appoints Andreas Erber as CTO and Executive Board member (effective September 2026)

SpaceNews.com

1 source

Matthew Williams named Senior Advisor, National Security at the Commercial Space Federation Matthew Williams, a former Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense and Chief of Staff to the Secretary of the Air Force, is joining the Commercial Space Federation (CSF) as Senior Advisor for National Security. The CSF announcement positions Williams to advise the association on defense and national security issues affecting the commercial space sector.

2026-06-30T11:18:55.200242-07:00

Matthew Williams named Senior Advisor, National Security at the Commercial Space Federation

CNBC

13 sources

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American Airlines expands Provisions by Admirals Club “grab-and-go” to JFK with a 3,700-square-foot outlet featuring hot food an American Airlines has opened a second Provisions by Admirals Club space at New York JFK, located between gates 12 and 14. The concept is a purpose-built 3,700-square-foot grab-and-go lounge designed for speed and flow, adding premium hot food and barista coffee without a traditional lounge stay.

2026-06-30T11:18:08.323022-07:00

American Airlines expands Provisions by Admirals Club “grab-and-go” to JFK with a 3,700-square-foot outlet featuring hot food an

Leeham News

1 source

Airbus CEO transition: Christian Scherer retires from Airbus Commercial Aircraft (effective 1 Jan 2026) Christian Scherer, CEO of Airbus Commercial Aircraft until 1 January 2026, completes his final day at Airbus today ahead of his planned retirement. The exit marks the end of a leadership period for Airbus’s commercial aircraft business and sets up a succession change for the company’s commercial strategy going into 2026.

2026-06-30T11:16:17.717123-07:00

Airbus CEO transition: Christian Scherer retires from Airbus Commercial Aircraft (effective 1 Jan 2026)

Bloomberg

9 sources

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White House order and FAA NPRM target a new path for overland U.S. supersonic flight via a sonic-boom–based noise standard A White House executive order directs the FAA to finalize supersonic noise certification standards by mid-2027. In parallel, the FAA proposes ending the decades-old blanket overland supersonic ban by moving to a measurable ground-impact/sonic-boom noise standard that would allow civil aircraft to exceed Mach 1 when they do not create a sonic boom at the surface, including in the “Mach cut-off” regime.

2026-06-30T09:29:59.196636-07:00

White House order and FAA NPRM target a new path for overland U.S. supersonic flight via a sonic-boom–based noise standard

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Hype's Leadership section provides a curated selection of news and in-depth analysis on the trailblazers and decision-makers in the aviation, defense, and space industries. This collection includes detailed coverage of leadership changes, executive appointments, and the strategic directions set by the industry's top figures, offering a clear view of the personalities driving aerospace innovation and corporate dynamics.