Corporate Jet Investor Power List 2015
Kenn Ricci, Chairman of Flexjet
Picking out the best sports stars, films or songs is always fun. Over the next two weeks we will be counting down the 10 individuals that we think will change the business jet market in 2015.
We have deliberately left out OEMs. This is not because they are unimportant – OEMs have the power to reshape the market – but they would have dominated the list.
The list also favours start-ups over established companies. This is especially true in finance; large lenders like Bank of America, CIT, PNC, RBS Asset Finance and the private banks are very important, but we feel that new start-ups have the potential to impact the market more. In the last five years we have seen the market survive the loss of large individual lenders, and banks have less room to suddenly reshape the market than other less regulated financial institutions.
Obviously picking out individuals is unfair. Everyone on the list is only there because of their colleagues and in many cases their co-founders. But it makes the list more industry.
While business aviation is a bigger industry than most people realise, the connections between the people on this list is fascinating. Nearly everyone has a venture or relationship with another of the top 10.
We have not told any of the people on this list about their place (all the quotes are from unrelated interviews) and we will be releasing one name each day. We hope you enjoy reading it and – of course – would love to hear who you think we should have included.
10. Kirsten Bartok: the innovator
Kirsten Bartok’s CV is impressive. She has worked as a banker (Goldman Sachs), an operator (XOJET), a manufacturer (Hawker Beechcraft) and as an entrepreneur (Airfinance).
9. Wang Fuhou: Mr China
No other finance company dominates its market like China’s Minsheng Financial Leasing. Wang Fuhou recently replaced Johhny Lau as the new vice president of aviation at Minsheng Financial Leasing and faces several challenges.
8. Nick Sandler: the young gun
Nick Sandler is not as well known as his former Guggenheim colleagues, but in 2015, Sandler – who is still in his thirties – will have a far higher profile.
7. Patrick Hansen: the empire builder
No other private jet operator has approached opportunities for acquisition with as much fervour as Patrick Hansen’s Luxaviation.
6. Claude Franco & Robert Gates: global ambitions
As odd as it may seem, the most covered business aviation start-up from the past six months was actually an aircraft financier: Global Jet Capital.
5. Robert Molsbergen: the global manager
Last year was an exciting year for NetJets, with growth for Executive Jet Management in Europe and the US and the launch of NetJets China.
4. Marwan Khalek: the strategist
Hangar8 is the ninth sizeable company that Marwan Khalek’s Gama Aviation has acquired. Now he has access to the equity markets, this is really just the start.
3. Kenny Dichter: the democratiser
When Corporate Jet Investor first met Kenny Dichter in 2013, he told us that his new venture Wheels Up would become “private aviation’s number one brand in the next five to six years.”
2. Thomas Flohr: the maverick
Thomas Flohr’s VistaJet achieved a lot in 2014. It expanded into the US and took delivery of 24 Bombardier jets. But it did not surprise the market.
1. Kenn Ricci: the investor
Since making his first aviation acquisition when he was 25, Ricci and his company Directional Aviation Capital have bought (and occasionally) sold companies across the whole of the industry.
Have your say…
Did we miss somebody out? Please let us know by e-mailing: [email protected]
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