Veteran executives Matthew Harris and Josh Lesnick take on expanded roles as the company targets multi-line revenue growth into 2026.
A record-setting 2025 and continued momentum into 2026 underpin a leadership reshuffle at Magellan Jets, as the private aviation company accelerates its growth strategy across acquisition, advisor development and platform expansion.
The newly expanded leadership roles of industry veterans Matthew Harris and Josh Lesnick are designed to accelerate acquisition activity, the Certified Advisor programme and wider platform growth. Both bring decades of experience across private aviation, luxury hospitality and high-net-worth client service.
The company’s 2026 forecast projects year-on-year growth across all revenue lines, including 26 per cent in total revenue, 24 per cent in gross sales, 31 per cent in new jet card sales and 20 per cent in jet card renewals.
Matthew Harris, previously chief operating officer, has been appointed chief strategy and growth officer. Josh Lesnick, formerly chief commercial officer, will now serve as chief operating officer. The changes take effect on June 9, 2026.
In his new role, Harris will lead acquisition strategy, the Certified Advisor by Magellan Jets programme for elite independent broker advisors, and strategic partnerships across operators, FBOs and technology providers.
Lesnick will oversee the company’s operating functions, including sales, marketing, sourcing, flight operations and client experience, and will be responsible for translating growth strategy into operational execution.
“The private aviation industry is fragmented, and Magellan Jets has long seen the opportunity to consolidate and grow it the right way,” said Joshua Marc Hebert, founder and CEO of Magellan Jets. “We are building a platform that gives premier brokerages and elite independent advisors the institutional infrastructure to scale, without ever asking them to surrender the founder-driven culture that made them great. Acquisitions, Certified Advisor by Magellan Jets and our proprietary technology are not separate initiatives, they are reinforcing pillars of a single vision: a private aviation platform that grows without limitations.”
“This is the moment we built Magellan Jets for. We have the brand, the technology, the safety and service record, and now the leadership team to lead the consolidation of this industry on our terms,” said Anthony Tivnan, founder and president of Magellan Jets. “Matthew Harris and Josh Lesnick are not new names, they are the people who have already delivered the results that earned us this opportunity, and now they are taking the seats that match the scale of what we are building.”
The company’s growth plan is structured around four reinforcing pillars: premier brokerage acquisition of firms meeting its service and safety standards; the Certified Advisor by Magellan Jets programme for independent brokers and small teams who complete certification and annual updates, with access to the platform, client apps, events and network aircraft; strategic partnerships across operators, FBOs and technology providers; and continued investment in technology and AI for scheduling, sourcing intelligence and client experience.
Harris brings nearly three decades in private aviation, including co-founding Milestone Aviation, which raised more than $540 million in capital and grew into a more than $4 billion leasing company before its $1.775 billion sale to GE Capital. He also spent 13 years at NetJets, ultimately as executive vice president of owner services, overseeing experience and retention for more than 5,000 high-net-worth clients. Most recently as chief operating officer, he led client experience, flight operations, procurement, sourcing and technology.
Lesnick joined Magellan Jets in 2023 as chief commercial officer, leading the transformation of sales and marketing functions and positioning the company on pace to double topline performance by the end of 2026. Before this, he spent more than 35 years in luxury hospitality leadership roles including Associated Luxury Hotels, Wyndham Hotel Group, Starwood Hotels & Resorts, Hyatt Hotels Group, Collective Retreats and Audience Rewards, where he built award-winning loyalty and retention programmes including Starwood Preferred Guest, Hyatt Gold Passport and Sheraton Club International. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree from Cornell University’s School of Hotel Administration and serves on the board of directors of Audience Rewards.
Clients will continue to receive the same service, safety and personal attention associated with the brand, now supported by expanded advisor networks, aircraft access, infrastructure and operational depth.
