Air Canada announced Executive Vice President and Chief Operations Officer Mark Nasr has been named a 2026 recipient of Canada’s Top 40 Under 40 Award.
The annual awards recognize Canadians under 40 for achievement, leadership and community contribution.
Nasr oversees Air Canada’s global operations, including flight operations, maintenance and engineering, airports, in-flight service, contact centres, international operations, crew planning and scheduling, regional carriers and onboard cabins and systems.
“Mark’s recognition as one of Canada’s Top 40 Under 40 is a fitting tribute to the breadth of his accomplishments and the impact he has had on Air Canada," said Vagn Sørensen, Chair of the board of directors of Air Canada.
"From leading the transformation of Aeroplan into Canada’s premier loyalty program, to advancing our digital capabilities, customer experience, product strategy and global brand, Mark has consistently combined vision, innovation and disciplined execution. In his current role, he brings that same energy and focus to engaging with and supporting our frontline colleagues, while keeping the needs of customers and the communities we serve at the centre of our decisions. Mark is an exceptional leader, and we are proud to see his achievements recognized nationally,”
Before moving into his current position, Nasr served as Executive Vice President, Marketing & Digital and President of Aeroplan.
In that role, he was responsible for Air Canada’s products and services, brand and marketing, commercial sponsorships and customer amenities. He also oversaw the airline’s global technology portfolio, including IT, data and digital operations.
Nasr was involved in several recent changes to Air Canada’s passenger experience, including the airline’s new aircraft interiors, which debuted aboard the Airbus A321XLR and are expected to be introduced more broadly across the fleet.
His team also led the rollout of fast, free Wi-Fi for Aeroplan members and changes to onboard service, including complimentary beer and wine and expanded snack offerings. Air Canada is also continuing cabin upgrades across its North American fleet.
Top 40 selected on five criteria
Founded by executive search firm Caldwell in 1995, Canada’s Top 40 Under 40 recognizes professionals from the private, public and social sectors.
An independent 18-member advisory board met on June 10 to select the 2026 honourees from a candidate list developed by Caldwell.
Candidates were assessed across five areas: career progression, leadership, vision and innovation, community involvement and corporate social responsibility, and impact and influence.
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