Calin Rovinescu doesn’t need another honour. He has earned dozens over a singular career, from the Order of Canada to six honorary degrees from universities in three countries. But the fact is, the Canadian Travel Hall of Fame would never be complete until his induction.

An immigrant from Romania, Rovinescu played a critical role in helping transform Air Canada from a government-owned flag carrier that many Canadians loved to criticize, into a profitable source of national pride and one of the world’s leading airlines.

Born in Bucharest, Romania, Rovinescu came to Canada with his parents and sister when he was five years old. He earned law degrees in both Ottawa and Montreal, and went on to be managing partner of prominent Montreal firm Stikeman Elliott LLP.

While a lawyer there, Rovinescu served as lead external counsel on Air Canada's privatization and public offering in 1988. Before first joining the airline full-time in 2000, he continued to offer advice on significant transactions and events.

In 2000, he signed on as Executive Vice President of Corporate Development and Strategy for an airline that was flying in heavy turbulence. The next few years were a harrowing time for AC and its employees, as it worked to absorb the large debt taken on in the acquisition of Canadian Airlines.

That was just one obstacle: leadership had to contend with a firestorm of adverse events, including an economic downturn, the industry-shaking events of September 11, 2001, high fuel prices and the war in Iraq.

The troubles culminated in late 2003, when Air Canada sought protection from creditors, and many feared the end of the runway was fast approaching. Rovinescu served as the carrier’s Chief Restructuring Officer during the crisis, and helped create a path toward recovery and growth.

From 2004 to 2009, he took a break from the airline world, spending his time as a co-founder and principal of independent investment bank Genuity Capital Markets, which subsequently merged with Canaccord Capital to create Canaccord Genuity Group.

The leader is given much credit for having helped saved Air Canada from bankruptcy and setting it on a course for sustainable profitability, improved labour relations and continued success.

Rejoining the organization he loved in 2010, Rovinescu spent the next decade steering Air Canada to unprecedented heights.

In the ten years following his appointment, AC share appreciated more than 4,000% and the airline achieved record revenues, record profitability and carried a record number of passengers. Its common shares appreciated more than any other company listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange over the decade ended December 31, 2019.

During his tenure, Air Canada was recognized by Skytrax as the Best Airline in North America in eight out of ten years, and as the only four star network carrier in North America. Its global network expanded exponentially – pre-pandemic, the carrier was serving 220 destinations on six continents.

Rovinescu was recognized far beyond Canada’s borders for his unique strengths as a CEO. He was elected chairman of the Star Alliance chief executive board, the controlling body of the world's largest global airline alliance. He served as chairman of the International Air Transport Association, the global trade association representing 240 airlines.

In 2018, Flight Global presented Rovinescu with the Global Executive Leadership Award at the 2018 Airline Strategy Awards, the airline industry’s leading recognition for CEOs of global carriers.

Also in 2018, he was recognized with the CEO lifetime achievement Award at the Airline Passenger Experience Association (APEX) expo, becoming the first CEO from the Americas to be presented with the award.

Canada’s leading business publications also celebrated Rovinescu’s success. The Globe and Mail's Report On Business magazine named him ‘Canada's Best CEO’ in 2013 and again in 2019, making him the only two-time winner. In 2016, he was named Canada's Outstanding CEO of the Year by Financial Post Magazine. More recently, he was inducted as a Companion into the Canadian Business Hall of Fame at a virtual induction ceremony in June 2021.

Yet another honour came when Rovinescu was appointed a member of the Order of Canada in 2018. He was cited for his success in leading Air Canada to profitability, but also for promoting the charitable causes and organizations of the airline, and for spearheading humanitarian relief following several natural disasters.

Rovinescu retired from Air Canada in early 2021, but retirement is a relative term. Today, he serves on the board of directors of BCE Inc., Canada's largest telecom and media company and of the Bank of Nova Scotia, Canada’s third largest bank. He is a Senior Advisor to Brookfield Asset Management, one of the world’s largest asset managers and of Teneo, a global public affairs advisory to CEOs.

More recently, he became an investor in and Senior Strategic Advisor to Switch Health, which found success after developing at-home and mobile collection kits to test Canadians for COVID-19.

A true Canadian immigrant success story, Rovinescu wants to see others take flight in his footsteps. On October 3, 2019, together with his wife Elaine, he announced the creation of the Rovinescu Admission Scholarships for new Canadians, to benefit future students of his alma maters the University of Ottawa and Université de Montréal. The gift of $2 million was divided equally between the two institutions.

The Rovinescu Scholarships will provide first-generation Canadians or children of immigrants, with the opportunity to pursue a bachelor’s or professional degree designation at either university.

"Calin Rovinescu led Air Canada through its darkest days, transforming its culture, improving labour relations and building confidence among investors," says John Kirk, TravelPulse Canada founder and creator of the Canadian Travel Hall of Fame. "His leadership skills and unwavering vision have been recognized internationally, and the foundation he has built will sustain Air Canada for decades to come."