FlyExclusive is shuffling its top management.
The fifth-largest operator based on charter and fractional flight hours, Founder and Chairman Jim Segrave adds the CEO title.
Longtime Segrave sidekick and CEO Mike Guina becomes Chief Strategy Officer.
Guina served as Executive Vice President of Segrave Aviation from 2005 to 2010. He joined Delta Private Jets after it acquired Segrave Aviation.
He then rejoined Segrave in 2015 and has helped build FlyExclusive into a major player in the U.S. charter market.
In his new role, he is responsible for “advancing strategic growth initiatives across the company including fleet composition, tools and integration, and Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul sales.
Segrave’s extended role will see him drive “all aspects of the company’s growth and vision.”
Tommy Sowers continues to serve as President while also taking on the role of Chief Operating Officer.
His responsibilities are “dedicated to increasing operational efficiencies such as vertical integration of the company divisions, profitability through aircraft utilization, employee retention and growth, and ongoing technology advancements.”
Sowers joined FlyExclusive in July 2021. He is a former Special Forces Officer and Assistant Secretary at the Department of Veterans of Affairs. The new COO was the Founder and CEO of a digital real estate marketplace before it was acquired in 2018.
Commenting on the changes, Segrave said, “Every day, each one of us wakes up and asks how we can perform better than yesterday. Good enough isn’t good enough.”
He added, “It’s with this commitment in mind that we’re making changes to how we drive innovation at FlyExclusive. I’m proud to work alongside Mike and Tommy as we continue to make FlyExclusive a go-to in the private aviation space as well as a destination for talent for generations to come,”
Sowers noted, “Our commitment from day one has been making this company – this family – the best it can be. One way we honor that commitment is through continuous improvement, by prioritizing flexibility to make adjustments necessary for growth. In this case, we’re making changes to create greater efficiencies in how we operate that will power innovative private jet travel and lead to better customer experiences.”
Earlier this year, FlyExclusive expanded into fractional ownership with an order for Citation CJ3 light jets from Textron Cessna.
After initially focusing on the wholesale market, in 2019, the Kinston, North Carolina operator launched its own jet card program under the Jet Club banner.
It has also built its own maintenance, paint, and interior refurbishment hangars at its home base. In addition to serving its own fleet, Segrave previously said he expects to serve other operators and jet owners.
