The black box and non-smoking flights are two notable introductions in aviation thanks to the help of Pierre Jean Jeanniot. The industry veteran was the president and CEO of Air Canada from 1984 to 1990 and has been a force behind the scenes for decades. His impact on the airline and the wider market can still be felt today.

Adapting quickly

After arriving in Montreal from France, Jeanniot took night courses in math and physics at Concordia University. The future businessman would also take business classes at McGill University. He came to the country with no knowledge of English. However, this didn’t deter him from venturing into a successful career path.

Jeanniot first joined Air Canada (then known as Trans-Canada Airlines) back in 1955. He held several roles throughout the company before becoming the chief.

The following positions were held by Jeanniot during his time before becoming the head of Air Canada:

• Junior Technician
• Senior positions in Technical Services
• VP, Computer and Systems Services
• EVP, Sales, Marketing and Planning
• EVP and Chief Operating Officer