Episodes
7 hours ago
7 hours ago
Commercial Airlines in the United States have achieved an amazing accomplishment– 10 years without a major mishap. This is an enviable safety record that is a direct result of professionalism and industry improvements made through the years. Resting on our laurels, however, is not an option.
How do we maintain this stellar record despite massive industry changes?
In this episode, I’m joined by former VP of Flight Ops for Southwest Airlines, Bob Waltz shares what’s behind the improvement of safety and how to keep it that way going forward.
How we’re training pilots is better than it was even a couple of years ago.
-Bob Waltz
Three Things You’ll Learn In This Episode
- How to set pilots up for safety: With rampant pilot hiring what training gaps needed to be closed?
- Solving the pilot shortfall: Would it be wise to reduce the 1500 hour rule?
- Why the human-machine interface is still needed: As aircraft become more complicated, how do we make sure pilots are familiar with the basics?
Guest Bio
Bob is the former VP of Flight Ops for Southwest Airlines. At the core of his experience is leadership in the operational and training arenas of aviation, both in the military and the civilian sectors--but his interests are wider than commercial aviation alone. He enjoys helping others see the value of Safety Management Systems and continuous improvement and bringing these concepts to life in their enterprise. Bob’s skill set translates well across other industries and areas of focus, from unmanned systems to space to formal education and educational administration to venture capital start-ups. His background was forged while attending the U.S. Air Force Academy, leading crews flying combat/combat support sorties in the Middle East and the Balkans, serving at the national level as the head of a recruiting team delivering educational opportunities to the widest audience, and guiding a multi-billion dollar OPEX and multi-million dollar CAPEX team of 10,500 folks through the pandemic while completing his Ph.D. in Aerospace Science / Safety Management Systems.
For more information, head to https://www.linkedin.com/in/bob-waltz-1829a51b/.
Learn More About Your Host:
Co-founder and Managing Partner for Northstar Group, Craig is focused on recruiting senior level leadership, sales and operations executives for some of the most prominent companies in the aviation and aerospace industry. Clients include well known aircraft OEM’s, aircraft operators, leasing / financial organizations, and Maintenance / Repair / Overhaul (MRO) providers.
Since 2009 Craig has personally concluded more than 150 executive searches in a variety of disciplines. As the only executive recruiter who has flown airplanes, sold airplanes AND run a business, Craig is uniquely positioned to build deep, lasting relationships with both executives and the boards and stakeholders they serve. This allows him to use a detailed, disciplined process that does more than pair the ideal candidate with the perfect opportunity, and hit the business goals of the companies he serves.
For more aerospace industry news & commentary: https://goo.gl/3piJkw. To learn more about Craig Picken and the NorthStar Group, visit http://northstaresg.com/.
Check out this episode on our Apple Podcasts, or Spotify and don't forget to download the Apple Podcasts app and leave a review if you like what you heard. Your review feeds the algorithm so our show reaches more people. Thank you!
Thursday Sep 05, 2024
Thursday Sep 05, 2024
Leading an aircraft carrier with a 5,000 person crew is like running an entire city. The flight deck is dangerous, the number of moving parts is countless, the stakes are high. and the magnitude of responsibility is unparalleled.
How do you deal with all this and still manage to be an approachable leader with the respect and loyalty of your crew? Why is delegation THE key to success?
In this episode, I’m joined by retired Navy captain of the USS Theodore Roosevelt, Brett Crozier. He talks about his incredible career, his philosophy on leadership and what any leader can learn from running an aircraft carrier.
Never overreact. The truth is always in the third report. -Brett Crozier
Three Things You’ll Learn In This Episode
- The curse of the founder: Delegation is key to leadership efficiency, but why do so many leaders struggle to offload certain responsibilities?
- How to be an approachable leader: The temperament of a leader has a huge effect on the culture, how do we keep our emotions in check?
- The right way to process information: We live in a world of unfiltered information and rushes to judgment. How do we manage this as leaders?
For more aerospace industry news & commentary: https://goo.gl/3piJkw. To learn more about Craig Picken and the NorthStar Group, visit http://northstaresg.com/.
Guest Bio
Brett Elliott Crozier is a retired US Navy captain and the author of “Surf When You Can: Lessons in Life, Loyalty, and Leadership from a Maverick Navy Captain”. He embarked on a thirty-year career in the Navy, flying dozens of combat missions over Iraq and leading at the highest levels of operational command. He served as the commanding officer of a combat F/A-18 strike fighter squadron, the world’s largest and most advanced communications ship, and ultimately the USS Theodore Roosevelt before retiring from the Navy in 2022.
Learn More About Your Host:
Co-founder and Managing Partner for Northstar Group, Craig is focused on recruiting senior level leadership, sales and operations executives for some of the most prominent companies in the aviation and aerospace industry. Clients include well known aircraft OEM’s, aircraft operators, leasing / financial organizations, and Maintenance / Repair / Overhaul (MRO) providers.
Since 2009 Craig has personally concluded more than 150 executive searches in a variety of disciplines. As the only executive recruiter who has flown airplanes, sold airplanes AND run a business, Craig is uniquely positioned to build deep, lasting relationships with both executives and the boards and stakeholders they serve. This allows him to use a detailed, disciplined process that does more than pair the ideal candidate with the perfect opportunity, and hit the business goals of the companies he serves.
Check out this episode on our Apple Podcasts, or Spotify, and don't forget to download the Apple Podcasts app and leave a review if you like what you heard. Your review feeds the algorithm so our show reaches more people. Thank you!
Thursday Aug 22, 2024
How Harley-Davidson Went From a Struggling Company to Iconic Brand w/ Ken Schmidt
Thursday Aug 22, 2024
Thursday Aug 22, 2024
If all you’re known for is what you do, you’ve basically rendered yourself uncompetitive. -Ken Schmidt
For more aerospace industry news & commentary: https://goo.gl/3piJkw. To learn more about Craig Picken and the NorthStar Group, visit http://northstaresg.com/.
In a competitive marketplace, nothing kills you faster than trying to brand yourself on your product or service. That’s a lesson Harley-Davidson learned the hard way.
At one point, the company was being outpaced by Yamaha, Kawasaki and BMW…until they decided to position themselves differently. They went from a product-focused business to a thriving lifestyle brand, and that turned into one of the biggest turnaround stories in American history.
If you focus on what you sell, you’ll render yourself uncompetitive. If you focus on what people believe and say about you, you’ll create a unique brand no one can copy.
That’s how a historic company became an iconic brand.
How can we apply Harley-Davidson’s strategy to our own personal and corporate brands? How do we focus on memorability instead of marketability?
In this episode, I’m joined by speaker, consultant, former director of communications for Harley-Davidson and author of “Make Some Noise: The Unconventional Road to Dominance”, Ken Schmidt. We talk about the secret to strong branding, whatever industry you’re in.
Three Things You’ll Learn In This Episode
- The lesson Harley Davidson learned the hard way
In business, competing on what we do is the death knell of market domination. How do we shift to something that sets us apart?
- A game of memorability
Building a brand is easier said than done, what are 3 major steps we need to take to build a strong personal or corporate brand?
- Stand out by delighting your customers
So many businesses are commoditized these days and they miss huge opportunities to stand out and gain loyalty. How do we get customers to come back for more?
Guest Bio
Ken Schmidt is a premium-fueled speaker, podcast host, author and consultant serving the world's highest- revving businesses (and those stuck in neutral). As the former director of communications for Harley-Davidson Motor Company, he played an active role in one of the most celebrated turnarounds in corporate history – and got paid to ride motorcycles. He is widely known and respected as one of the business world’s most outspoken, provocative, and entertaining thought leaders on competition, brand management, positioning, reputation management, human behavior, and loyalty, and has delivered more than one thousand keynote speeches to business and education groups around the globe. Ken’s book “Make Some Noise: The Unconventional Road to Dominance” teaches how to improve business and personal competitiveness and is shared from his, as always, extraordinarily unexpected point of view. To learn more, head to https://kenspeaks.com/ and buy the book here.
About Your Host
Co-founder and Managing Partner for Northstar Group, Craig is focused on recruiting senior-level leadership, sales, and operations executives for some of the most prominent companies in the aviation and aerospace industry. Clients include well-known aircraft OEMs, aircraft operators, leasing / financial organizations, and Maintenance / Repair / Overhaul (MRO) providers.
Since 2009 Craig has personally concluded more than 150 executive searches in a variety of disciplines. As the only executive recruiter who has flown airplanes, sold airplanes, AND run a business, Craig is uniquely positioned to build deep, lasting relationships with both executives and the boards and stakeholders they serve. This allows him to use a detailed, disciplined process that does more than pair the ideal candidate with the perfect opportunity and hit the business goals of the companies he serves.
Check out this episode on Apple Podcasts, or Spotify, and don't forget to download the Apple Podcasts app and leave a review if you like what you heard. Your review feeds the algorithm so our show reaches more people. Thank you!
Thursday Aug 15, 2024
Life or Death Leadership: How to Build High Trust Workplaces w/ George Dom
Thursday Aug 15, 2024
Thursday Aug 15, 2024
Trust is really the water that all relationships swim in. When the trust is high, the water is clear and it’s a wonderful experience. When trust isn’t there, the water’s dark and there’s misery and drudgery. -George Dom
For more aerospace industry news & commentary: https://goo.gl/3piJkw. To learn more about Craig Picken and the NorthStar Group, visit http://northstaresg.com/.
In the high-flying, high stakes world of The Blue Angels - trust is as vital as the air we breathe. In such an extreme workplace, trust can’t be selective or conditional. People have to fully and enthusiastically put their lives in the hands of their leaders and each other, and that requires high, unwavering trust at all times.
You might not be leading in such an extreme, life or death workplace, but that doesn’t mean you can’t learn from them. If we can apply lessons from these environments to our own civilian workplaces, we can push the capabilities of our teams.
From communication to competence, how can military leadership lessons make us better? How do you build a culture of high trust? In this episode, I’m joined by former Commanding Officer of the Blue Angels and author of “High Trust Leadership”, George Dom. We talk about how to lead like a Blue Angels commanding officer.
Three Things You’ll Learn In This Episode
- Get education from extreme workplaces
Some of the best leadership lessons come out of the most extreme environments. What do high-stress, life or death situations teach us about running great organizations?
- The 5 questions everyone asks of their leaders
Whether you’re in a high-stress, high-danger environment or an office, what do leaders need to be focused on?
- Transmit your message consistently
In military and aviation environments, people don’t just assume a message was heard. They have protocols to make sure a message was received. How can we implement this in our organizations?
Guest Bio
George is an aviation executive, pilot, speaker and former Commanding Officer of the Blue Angels. Today he is the COO of ACI Jet and the author of the upcoming book, “High Trust Leadership: How to Build a High-Performance Team”. Through inspiring keynotes, engaging workshops, and expert coaching, George shares critical lessons on leadership, team-building, and high performance based on his 26-year Navy career that included aerial combat missions, flight leader of the Blue Angels, and Topgun instructor. Participants learn the skills that transform managers into leaders and groups into cohesive teams -- High-Trust Leadership and Focused Engagement. To learn more go to https://georgedom.com/ and connect with George on LinkedIn.
More About Your Host:
Co-founder and Managing Partner for Northstar Group, Craig is focused on recruiting senior-level leadership, sales, and operations executives for some of the most prominent companies in the aviation and aerospace industry. Clients include well-known aircraft OEMs, aircraft operators, leasing / financial organizations, and Maintenance / Repair / Overhaul (MRO) providers.
Since 2009 Craig has personally concluded more than 150 executive searches in a variety of disciplines. As the only executive recruiter who has flown airplanes, sold airplanes, AND run a business, Craig is uniquely positioned to build deep, lasting relationships with both executives and the boards and stakeholders they serve. This allows him to use a detailed, disciplined process that does more than pair the ideal candidate with the perfect opportunity and hit the business goals of the companies he serves.
Check out this episode on our website, Apple Podcasts, or Spotify, and don't forget to download the Apple Podcasts app and leave a review if you like what you heard. Your review feeds the algorithm so our show reaches more people. Thank you!
Thursday Aug 08, 2024
Thursday Aug 08, 2024
Everyone wants to have A-players in their teams, but when it comes to recruiting those rockstars, many of us don’t even know where to start.
Does recruitment look any different when we’re looking to onboard the best of the best? How do top-tier achievers want to be approached, and what could entice them to work with our organizations, over everyone else?
On the flipside, how can recruits present themselves as the kind of talent companies are willing to go the extra mile to bring into their worlds?
In this episode, executive recruiter and President of MR Fairfax, Robert Houghton and I discuss how to spot (or become!) top talent.
"The ideal recruit is looking towards a goal, not running away from something." -Craig Picken
Three Things You’ll Learn In This Episode
- 5 things that separate A-players from everyone else
Is there an easy way to spot the ideal hire, from a distance?
- The non-negotiables A-players are looking for
Why would a rockstar be willing to up and move to another organization? How can we make joining our teams worth their while?
- How to tell if a rockstar recruit is really interested
Are would-be recruits really interested in joining our teams, or could they be easily persuaded to stay where they are now?
Guest Bio-
Robert Houghton is an executive recruiter and the President of MR Fairfax, the #1 recruiter in the Mid-Atlantic region specializing in insurance and financial services. A well-established former CEO of several successful business enterprises, Robert has a unique understanding of executive recruiting in the commercial insurance sector with specialties in employee benefits, property & casualty insurance and risk management.
To find out more, go to
You can also email him with rhoughton@mrfairfax.com
Thursday Jul 25, 2024
Thursday Jul 25, 2024
In order to build a successful, scalable business that sets us free, we have to first build a really great team.
Our teams and the way they operate dictate the success of our organizations, and most of us know that. However, when it comes to building those teams, most of us just don’t know what we don’t know.
So, how can we build the kinds of teams that allow us to create the businesses of our dreams?
In this episode, author, speaker and serial entrepreneur, Carl Gould reveals the 7 stages of growing a great business, and the 2 stages guaranteed to help you assemble an unstoppable team.
"The people who got here are not necessarily the people who’ll get you there, and that’s okay." -Craig Picken
Three Things You’ll Learn In This Episode
-One thing we tend to forget when building teams
Could promoting our best players actually do more harm than good to our organizations?
-The key to attracting top talent
Are we missing out on a crucial factor when trying to recruit the best players in the game?
-Why turnover isn’t always a bad thing
No one likes the thought of losing employees, but could high turnover actually be the best thing for our businesses?
Guest Bio-
Carl Gould is a best-selling author, sought after speaker and the serial entrepreneur behind three multi-million-dollar businesses The founder of 7 Stages Advisors, over the past two decades, Carl has worked with more than 7000 Business Coaches and mentored the launch of over 5000 businesses. Thanks to his expertise, Carl has been featured by a number of top-tier publications including, among others, Wall Street Journal and Forbes. Carl’s forthcoming book, The Obnoxious Offer will hit shelves in Fall 2022.
To find out more, go to:
Learn More About Your Host:
Co-founder and Managing Partner for Northstar Group, Craig is focused on recruiting senior level leadership, sales and operations executives for some of the most prominent companies in the aviation and aerospace industry. Clients include well known aircraft OEM’s, aircraft operators, leasing / financial organizations, and Maintenance / Repair / Overhaul (MRO) providers.
Since 2009 Craig has personally concluded more than 150 executive searches in a variety of disciplines. As the only executive recruiter who has flown airplanes, sold airplanes AND run a business, Craig is uniquely positioned to build deep, lasting relationships with both executives and the boards and stakeholders they serve. This allows him to use a detailed, disciplined process that does more than pair the ideal candidate with the perfect opportunity, and hit the business goals of the companies he serves.
Thursday Jul 18, 2024
Never Experience Another Crisis: How to Reverse a Disaster w/ Patrick Hardy
Thursday Jul 18, 2024
Thursday Jul 18, 2024
Disruptions, crises, and unexpected challenges are inevitable in business. While we may not be able to prevent a crisis, we can control whether it escalates into a full-blown disaster.
The difference between a "disruption" and a "disaster" is more than just semantics. A disruption is a minor hiccup, but without strategic anticipation and planning, it can become catastrophic. The problem with many organizations is that they invest in impressive disaster management plans but fail to implement them effectively.
By making a few key mindset shifts, we can reverse a disaster and even turn it into a strategic advantage.
Why should we view disasters differently? How can we use them to improve our operations?
In this episode, I’m joined by Patrick Hardy, a speaker, trainer, author, and disaster reversal expert. We discuss how to plan for disasters and run a resilient business, regardless of economic conditions.
An earthquake is just the ground shaking. A hurricane is just a severe windstorm. A tsunami is ultimately a big wave of water. It doesn’t become a disaster unless you let it become one. -Patrick Hardy
Three Things You’ll Learn In This Episode
-Ready, react, respond, recover and reverse
Disruptions are inevitable. Is part of changing the culture of disaster management convincing people to anticipate it?
-Reactivity vs. resilience
How do we run organizations that can bounce back and improve after a crisis instead of organizations that crumble easily?
-The danger of a single point of failure
A disaster isn’t actually about what’s happening or the size of the disruption. It’s a matter of dependency. What makes organizations more disaster prone?
Thursday Jul 11, 2024
Thursday Jul 11, 2024
Disruptions, crises, and unexpected challenges are inevitable in business. While we may not be able to prevent a crisis, we can control whether it escalates into a full-blown disaster.
The difference between a "disruption" and a "disaster" is more than just semantics. A disruption is a minor hiccup, but without strategic anticipation and planning, it can become catastrophic. The problem with many organizations is that they invest in impressive disaster management plans but fail to implement them effectively.
By making a few key mindset shifts, we can reverse a disaster and even turn it into a strategic advantage.
Why should we view disasters differently? How can we use them to improve our operations?
In this episode, I’m joined by Patrick Hardy, a speaker, trainer, author, and disaster reversal expert. We discuss how to plan for disasters and run a resilient business, regardless of economic conditions.
Success is just a function of treating our customers well, keeping our expenses tight and edging into things that make sense. -Mike Winston
Three Things You’ll Learn In This Episode
- A fascinating origin story
How did a finance guy find his way into the world of charter aviation?
- How AI can impact aviation
You always need to have a human element for charter booking because it involves safety and a lot of money. Is there a way AI can be brought in to optimize the human aspect?
- The truth about charter operations
One of the biggest challenges in the charter business is that a client’s aircraft preference never changes. How do operators know what to buy?
Guest Bio
Mike Winston, CFA is the Executive Chairman of Jet.AI Inc. He began his career in 1999 with Credit Suisse First Boston Corporation and later worked as a portfolio manager at Millennium Partners LP where for five years he and a colleague managed a $1 billion merger arbitrage and event driven capital allocation. In 2012, he formed the Sutton View Group of companies, an alternative asset management platform where he advised one of the largest academic endowments in the world. He co-led a successful activist litigation against the board of Dole Foods in its management led buyout and obtained a 35% increase in total consideration on behalf of all stockholders. Institutional Investor Magazine has recognized Mr. Winston for professional excellence; he has been quoted in the Wall Street Journal and has appeared on CNBC. Mr. Winston received an MBA in Finance and Real Estate from Columbia Business School in 2005, and a BA in Economics from Cornell University in 1999. While at Cornell he studied for a year at the London School of Economics and at age 18 won a $1 million prize from IBM for his first startup company. Mr. Winston is a CFA Charterholder, and a member of the Economic Club of New York.
Connect with Mike on LinkedIn and send an email to mike@jet.ai.
Learn More About Your Host:
Co-founder and Managing Partner for Northstar Group, Craig is focused on recruiting senior-level leadership, sales, and operations executives for some of the most prominent companies in the aviation and aerospace industry. Clients include well-known aircraft OEMs, aircraft operators, leasing / financial organizations, and Maintenance / Repair / Overhaul (MRO) providers.
Since 2009 Craig has personally concluded more than 150 executive searches in a variety of disciplines. As the only executive recruiter who has flown airplanes, sold airplanes, AND run a business, Craig is uniquely positioned to build deep, lasting relationships with both executives and the boards and stakeholders they serve. This allows him to use a detailed, disciplined process that does more than pair the ideal candidate with the perfect opportunity and hit the business goals of the companies he serves.
Thursday Jun 27, 2024
Progress, Not Punishment: How to Make Business Aviation Safer w/ Jessie Naor
Thursday Jun 27, 2024
Thursday Jun 27, 2024
We don’t like to talk about it often, but when it comes to safety, business aviation doesn't have the perfect record. Anytime an accident happens, it affects the entire industry. A rising tide of safety keeps more planes in the air and makes the whole industry better.
Raising the bar of safety can feel like a nebulous concept, but it’s a necessary conversation. While it’s hard to pinpoint the areas that need to be addressed, we can start by building the right enforcement mechanisms and environments to correct problems.
How do we raise the safety standard without creating a finger-pointing or witch-hunting environment? What is the Air Charter Safety Foundation doing to bring safety to the entire niche?
In this episode, I’m joined by Sky Strategy columnist, co-chair of the Board of Governors at the Air Charter Safety Foundation and CEO of FlyVizor, Jessie Naor. She talks about how she built GrandView Aviation, and how to make business aviation safer.
We don’t like to talk about it often, but we don’t have a perfect record. If anyone has an accident, it affects all of us. -Jessie Naor
Three Things You’ll Learn In This Episode
-Cutting down on acts of stupidity
Illegal charters are one of the biggest causes of business aviation accidents. How do we create the right enforcement mechanisms and environments to correct the issues?
-Growth makes things easier
How did GrandView Aviation go from a small company to 20 aircraft and 100 pilots? How did management approach growth and ultimately selling the business?
-Progress not punishment
We continue to have accidents in business aviation, and it should be a concern to all of us. How do we create a reporting culture that doesn’t feel like finger-pointing?
Guest Bio
Jessie Naor is the author of the Sky Strategy column in Aviation Week's BCA, Co-Chair of the Board of Governors at the Air Charter Safety Foundation and CEO of FlyVizor, an aviation M&A advisory and business consulting firm. She is a former founder and president of GrandView Aviation. Jessie has years of C-level experience in sales, marketing, HR, finance, data technologies and flight operations management. She is heavily engaged in industry advocacy, having served on multiple FAA Rulemaking committees and trade board groups. She was awarded a Top 40 Under 40 by the National Business Aviation Association and has spoken at events such as Women in Aviation, Corporate Jet Investor, amongst others. Connect with Jessie on LinkedIn.
Learn More About Your Host
Co-founder and Managing Partner for Northstar Group, Craig is focused on recruiting senior-level leadership, sales, and operations executives for some of the most prominent companies in the aviation and aerospace industry. Clients include well-known aircraft OEMs, aircraft operators, leasing / financial organizations, and Maintenance / Repair / Overhaul (MRO) providers.
Since 2009 Craig has personally concluded more than 150 executive searches in a variety of disciplines. As the only executive recruiter who has flown airplanes, sold airplanes, AND run a business, Craig is uniquely positioned to build deep, lasting relationships with both executives and the boards and stakeholders they serve. This allows him to use a detailed, disciplined process that does more than pair the ideal candidate with the perfect opportunity and hit the business goals of the companies he serves.
Thursday Jun 20, 2024
The Only Way to Make Money in the Charter Business w/ John Matthews
Thursday Jun 20, 2024
Thursday Jun 20, 2024
Operating airplanes is a TOUGH business! Complicated machines, delicate financing structures, ever changing asset values, and other complexities that can tank even the best run operations. This is why it’s impossible to democratize business aviation.
Because owning a business jet company is sexy, it is easy to become overly emotional and focus on what makes you look good. But, it is a numbers business and operators who don’t stay disciplined will often find themselves in a lot of trouble. The secret according to AirX’s founder, John Matthews? Take let data drive your decisions.
How do you set a charter business up for success?
What are some of the mistakes jet operators are making? In this episode, John talks about the journey the company has taken, from their fascinating beginnings, to picking routes and building a very unique fleet and what it takes to survive and thrive in a tough business.
I became extremely analytical when I started to lose money, and that’s how we started making money. -John Matthews
Three Things You’ll Learn In This Episode
-Why AirX stopped flying to America
The routes you fly are critical to your success in the charter business. What are the differences between the American and European marketplaces?
-The only way to survive and thrive
The asset market is going to soften and we’ve seen a sharp rise in the charter jet global inventory. What approach does AirX take to expanding their fleet? What are some of the creative aircraft they’ve assembled?
-Data-driven decisions only
In an industry like charters, it’s really easy to make decisions based on emotion. Why is it critical to be analytical instead?
Guest Bio
John Matthews is the Chairman of AirX. Beginning at the age of 17, John Matthews managed the operations of a 20-plane flying school. At the age of 18, He started a twin piston engine aircraft charter business for the executive charter market. John also earned a contract with Caledonian Airways to manage 13 Tri-Stars and two DC10s around the world, providing all technical ground support and flying critical spare parts to Caledonian in AOG circumstances. By the age of 19, John had advanced his career by starting his own operation with 10-seater twin engine aircraft. Healix, the UK's largest repatriation company, also hired him to fly medical relief flights. AirX was founded because a family-run business purchased the wrong assets during the boom. John took over operations, and within months of his leadership, the company was brought back from the brink of bankruptcy, building a new tier in Malta as the company's new HQ, which began in 2010 since then the annual turnover increased from €8 million to €150 million, with zero EBITDA to €25 million and cash generation of roughly €8 million in 2023, a record year. AirX has grown its clientele to include over 250 notable international celebrities, the majority of whom are return customers, including royal families, politicians, government flights, music tours, sports teams, and mission flights. For more information, go to https://www.airx.aero/.
Learn More About Your Host:
Co-founder and Managing Partner for Northstar Group, Craig is focused on recruiting senior-level leadership, sales, and operations executives for some of the most prominent companies in the aviation and aerospace industry. Clients include well-known aircraft OEMs, aircraft operators, leasing / financial organizations, and Maintenance / Repair / Overhaul (MRO) providers.
Since 2009 Craig has personally concluded more than 150 executive searches in a variety of disciplines. As the only executive recruiter who has flown airplanes, sold airplanes, AND run a business, Craig is uniquely positioned to build deep, lasting relationships with both executives and the boards and stakeholders they serve. This allows him to use a detailed, disciplined process that does more than pair the ideal candidate with the perfect opportunity and hit the business goals of the companies he serves.