Rousseau story on permanent cycle
The matter of Michael Rousseau not speaking French continues to sputter through the QMI-sphere like a Roman candle that won’t stop – Denise Bombardier says she’s the one enduring aggressions from the “woke” – but it crossed my mind just now that the scandal ought to be the rarefied world of the big CEO in our economy. A CEO can work in any language because they’re surrounded by a horde of drones enabling them so they can make the three decisions the corporation needs them to make every year to earn their vast salaries.
Yes, Air Canada should have a bilingual CEO. But the fact is, it doesn’t matter. The airline’s structure – a typical corporate structure – means that drones are feeding the CEO with royal jelly in whatever flavour he needs.
JP 16:20 on 2021-11-08 Permalink
I agree with your assessment, Kate. It doesn’t ultimately matter if CEOs are bilingual or not…as long as they do speak English.
I think Air France’s CEO (or one of the top guys) is a uni-lingual Anglophone, now living in Paris…he used to be one of the top guys at Air Canada. I haven’t heard about them making a fuss…I guess it comes down to being insecure about one’s identity, collective or otherwise.
dhomas 16:59 on 2021-11-08 Permalink
The CEO of Air France – KLM is Benjamin Smith:
https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Benjamin_Smith_(homme_d%27affaires)
He was formerly the “Président” at Air Canada from 2014 to about 2018. I linked to the French Wikipedia article, since the English one for Air Canada makes nary a mention of him.
That said, the CEO of Air France according to English Wikipedia is Anne Rigail:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Air_France
The French Wikipedia lists her as DG or Directrice Générale, which I believe is COO in English:
https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anne_Rigail
All that to say, the French part of Air France is run by someone who is and speaks French. The multinational part, Air France – KLM is run by a British guy. BTW, he speaks French, which makes sense since the head office is in France:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vZS61HUPdX8
If Air Canada was part of a multinational organization (example, if United acquired AC and the combined company was United – Air Canada) and the CEO of that company did not speak French, I don’t think anyone would bat an eye.
I think it is pretty bad optics for the CEO of a flag carrier airline like Air Canada to have a CEO that doesn’t speak the local language. I know it’s possible to do it, but it doesn’t mean it’s a good idea. I think the worst part is that it would have taken very little effort spread over 14 years to learn the language of the place you live (like Benjamin Smith did).
thomas 17:25 on 2021-11-08 Permalink
@JP Benjamin Smith was unilingual when he took the job, but has since learned French well and seems very comfortable in french language interviews.
Given that a major part of the job description of any Canadian aerospace CEO is to regularly beg levels for government for subsidies, you would think he would have the sense to speak in the language of the donor.
Ephraim 17:46 on 2021-11-08 Permalink
Let’s be realistic, AC can afford for him to go through Berlitz. If Celine can do it, so can he.
CEOs are generally big picture people, they make decisions that guide a company from the top, like which brand of aircraft to buy, rather than the specifics of which aircraft are needed. So he decides if AC is going to buy Boeing or Airbus, but not if they really need 787s or 737s…. that’s something someone below him would hand him.
Uatu 19:05 on 2021-11-08 Permalink
I agree with your assessment, Kate. Ultimately the most important language is $$$$$ no matter what the CEO speaks. If he’s unilingual but still brings in the money then who cares? Nobody did before he opened his mouth. CEOs have attendants running after them to handle everything else. But yeah, Berlitz is a good idea.