Rob Cords has been named Executive Vice President of Fleet Operations & Infrastructure at Wheels Up.
He will report directly to President Vinayak Hegde.
The move comes as Wheels Up and other operators seek to improve delivery amidst supply chain and labor issues as private flying continues at record levels.
Wheels Up increased call-outs and flight minimums in early May for its membership program. It follows an industry trend as providers are seeking to mitigate the strain of demand.
In the new position, Cords will lead all aspects of fleet maintenance, fleet health and reliability, Original Equipment Manufacturer relationships, corporate facilities and hangars, Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul services, Fixed Base Operator services, and supply chain.
He also will contribute to overall operations integration and fleet strategy.
Cords brings over two decades of aviation experience, including President of MRO Holdings, a leading international airframe maintenance, and modification solutions provider.
At MRO Holdings, Cords integrated multiple acquired maintenance facilities and centralized core maintenance support functions.
Before MRO Holdings, he was President of Airlines and Fleets at StandardAero. There he oversaw a $1 billion aircraft engine maintenance division. During his tenure, he grew EBITDA by more than 80 percent.
Cords has a Bachelor’s of Business Administration from Indiana University and an MBA from Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management.
He will be based in the Dallas area.
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