Air Canada chief executive Calin Rovinescu will be inducted into the Canadian Business Hall of Fame, the hall’s governing body announced Wednesday.

“Calin’s exceptional business and leadership achievements have been widely recognized by several influential organizations both in Canada and globally,” said Annette Verschuren, Member of the Air Canada Board of Directors, and a 2019 Canadian Business Hall of Fame Inductee, in a statement.

“His deep commitment to making Canada a better place begins with his relentless determination and long-term vision in creating a sustainable, continually improving global company, which becomes a solid foundation to giving back to society.”

Rovinescu first joined Air Canada in 2000, piloting the airline through its bankruptcy and restructuring in 2003-2004. He left to the banking industry in 2004, but returned to Canada’s largest carrier in 2009 as President and Chief Executive Officer.

In that time, he has also been active in a number of aviation organizations, including the International Air Transport Association, the Star Alliance, and on the Board of Directors of the Canadian Council of Chief Executives.

Rovinescu’s tenure has seen record-breaking growth for Air Canada, flying the most passengers ever – nearly 51 million – in 2018. He has led the airline in a transition from Canada’s largest domestic carrier to a global competitor connecting passengers through its Canadian hubs to points in the United States and around the world.

“Calin’s exceptional business and leadership achievements have been widely recognized by several influential organizations both in Canada and globally,” said Verschuren. “His deep commitment to making Canada a better place begins with his relentless determination and long-term vision in creating a sustainable, continually improving global company, which becomes a solid foundation to giving back to society.”

The Canadian Business Hall of Fame has been around since 1979 and exists to celebrate outstanding achievements by business leaders. Companions are nominated by their peers and are chosen by an independent selection committee.