In one year, Premier has acquired and expanded a major MRO and FBO facility in Dayton, Ohio, then acquired a larger FBO at the airport to integrate with MRO ops. Stephen West joining is expected to accelerate progress.
Stephen West, an executive with a track record of growing charter organisations, has joined Premier Private Jets, an integrated US provider of charter, FBO and MRO services, as president of charter division. CEO Josh Birmingham sought out West to strengthen the management team as Premier has expanded with major new MRO capabilities and new FBOs.
“I'm so thrilled to have Stephen aboard. He's a great fit for this role with a great sense of how to methodically expand a charter organisation, while maintaining the highest level of customer service,” says Birmingham. “Meanwhile, I'll have more opportunity to manage our growing operations and continue to look for additional growth opportunities through acquisition or organic expansion.”
In little more than a year, Premier has acquired and expanded a major MRO and FBO facility in Dayton, Ohio, then acquired a larger FBO at the same airport to integrate with MRO operations, and last month acquired the former Wheels Up FBO in Cincinnati. It now has a network of three FBOs in the Upper Midwest, including one in Pontiac, Michigan.
“We are expanding prudently with an eye for value,” Birmingham goes on. “We look for opportunities, mainly FBOs, to expand in our current primary charter area of the eastern US.”
West joins with an impressive record as president and CEO of Ultimate Jets based in Akron, Ohio. There he led year-over-year growth of more than 30 per cent, doubling charter business in just three years, while achieving the ARGUS Platinum rating, cementing the organisation's credentials. In the process he added new aircraft models to the fleet, expanding capabilities for customers.
“Josh and I have aligned philosophies,” he says. “It is fundamentally about managing growth and expanding an organisation in sync, while adding new aircraft in a thoughtful, financially conservative way and always keeping the focus on the customer.”
Previously, West had a stand-out sales track record with Sentient Jet, contracting more than $150 million in jet card sales. He also brings strong hands-on operational knowledge from an earlier stint as an operations control manager for Flight Options and experience with Raytheon Travelair.
