Announcements & Appointments
Lucie Guillemette retires as Air Canada EVP and COO – was former senior director of HR

Air Canada has announced the retirement of Lucie Guillemette, executive vice-president and chief commercial officer. Guillemette, who is responsible for the airline’s commercial strategies, will retire at the end of April 2023, ending a highly successful career touching five decades at Canada’s flag carrier.

Air Canada also announced today a realigned senior management structure taking effect with Guillemette’s departure. Mark Nasr, senior vice-president, products, marketing and e-commerce, will become executive vice-president marketing and digital, and president of Aeroplan.

Mark Galardo, senior vice-president, network planning and revenue management, will become executive vice-president, revenue and network planning, including responsibility for Air Canada Vacations. The new appointments will be effective May 1, 2023.

‘Remarkable’ 36-year career

“Starting with her first job as a call centre agent, Lucie has at every stage of her remarkable, 36-year career contributed to Air Canada’s advancement. She is a leader who inspired her teams and all employees with her passion for customer service, her deep personal regard for her colleagues, and her unwavering commitment to our company’s success,” said Michael Rousseau, President and Chief Executive of Air Canada.

“It is no coincidence that Lucie’s rise through the senior management ranks paralleled the transformation of Air Canada into a leading global carrier, with our revenue doubling and our profitability growing even faster as we undertook a major, international network expansion. Capping this, she played a critical role helping guide Air Canada through the pandemic by implementing innovative revenue strategies that will now serve as the foundation for our future. Everyone at Air Canada joins me in thanking Lucie and heartily wishing her the best for a long, fulfilling retirement.”

Former jobs included senior director of HR

Guillemette began her career at Air Canada in 1987 as a customer service and sales agent. She subsequently joined passenger marketing, holding positions in revenue and product management and was appointed director, international products in 2000. She held senior marketing and commercial positions, including general manager, Aeroplan call center operations, and senior director, network management. She was also senior director, human resources.

She became a member of Air Canada’s executive team in 2008 as vice-president, revenue management. In 2015, she was named senior vice-president, revenue optimization, with responsibility for yield management, pricing strategies, global sales and distribution activities. In her present role, she has oversight for optimizing all commercial activities for the airline and its regional partners, including network planning and management, revenue performance, product, marketing, branding, sales and distribution activities worldwide. She is also president of Air Canada Vacations.

In 2017, Guillemette was recognized by the Women’s Executive Network as of one Canada’s 100 Most Powerful Women in Business in the Corporate Executive category.