Chris Leach says strong growth in sales has pushed the company up the Top Track 250 rankings

ACS marks 25 years with new offices and appointments

Foggy conditions in UK lead to a rise in private jet charters

Foggy conditions across the UK in early November led to a 50 per cent rise in private jet bookings for Air Charter Service when compared to the previous week. The fog was the main reason given for many scheduled flights into and out of the UK being delayed or cancelled.

Director of the private jet division Chris Mansell says: “One such trip was for two people to travel to France as they simply couldn't wait for the fog to clear. Obviously when the fog is so bad, even a private jet is unable to fly. But we were able to get the aircraft safely out of Farnborough Airport and got our client to their destination on time. Because we constantly monitor all factors that have the possibility to affect our charters, we managed not to have any cancellations or major diversions to flights that were pre-booked before the fog arrived.”

Air Charter Service opens its doors in Miami

Following strong first half year figures showing a 41 per cent increase in world-wide business, and overall profits which have more than doubled year on year, ACS continues to invest in its global infrastructure and has opened an office in Miami.

Heading up the office will be Joel Fenn, who has been working in the company's Hong Kong oper-
ation for the past two and a half years. Fenn started his ACS career over ten years ago in the company's London headquarters, where he worked his way up to the position of director, before taking on the same role in the Hong Kong operation.

Fenn says: “Miami is a major hub between the US and Latin America and is the second largest finance and banking region of the US, which makes it an ideal location for our newest office. We have brought in a mixture of experienced account managers from other ACS offices and hired locally as well. We are all very excited about this venture.”

Caroline Werf appointed head of German operation

Caroline Werf is now managing director of ACS' Frankfurt operation. Werf is an aviation management graduate of the International University of Applied Sciences Bad Honnef near Bonn. She joined ACS in the company's London headquarters before taking up her role in the Frankfurt office.Ceo Justin Bowman says: “Caroline has quickly built up a strong reputation in the industry, and now has a good customer base that relies on her expertise and knowledge of the charter market in Germany, Austria and beyond. She will help to drive the Frankfurt office forward as we move into newer, bigger premises next month in what is set to be our record year in Germany.”

Stephanie Poster becomes head of private jets for ACS Canada

Stephanie Poster has been promoted to head of ACS' Canadian private jet division. Poster joined the company more than four years ago and has become one of the company's most respected and successful private jet brokers.

Gary Hopkins, long serving managing director of the company's Canadian operations, says: “Stephanie has shown over the past few years that she is ready to step up to a management role, and this promotion comes on the back of a particularly impressive month for the department, with Stephanie proving the driving force behind the growth.”

ACS climbs up Top Track 250 rankings

And finally, ACS has been placed 85th in The Sunday Times' annual Top Track 250 list, which ranks Britain's top 250 mid-market private companies by their turnover over the previous year, from published accounts. Chairman Chris Leach comments: “In the year of our 25th anniversary, this placing is recognition of our hard work and continued growth over the past few years, and we are delighted with our position.”

To mark its 25 years in business ACS has brought out a video story of its history narrated by Chris, Tina, James and ceo Justin Bowman, all members of the founding Leach family. You can see it at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v≠5gWQvonqfPM