NEW YORK, Oct. 5, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Wheels Up
(NYSE:UP), the leading brand in private aviation, today, announced
the appointment of Vinayak Hegde as
President. The move comes during a time of historic demand and
revenue growth and on the heels of its public listing in July
2021. Since May 2021, Hegde has
served as Chief Marketplace Officer, responsible for leveraging
innovative and proprietary technology to both grow and expand its
customer base beyond the traditional membership model.
With its next-generation technology-driven platform, the Wheels
Up Marketplace is expanding the addressable market and increasing
the accessibility of private air travel from hundreds of thousands
to millions of consumers. Hegde will continue to report
directly to Wheels Up Chairman and CEO Kenny Dichter.
"I am excited to announce the promotion of Vinayak Hegde to President," said Kenny Dichter, "Since joining our team in May,
Vinayak has successfully leveraged his proven, successful track
record with Product, Engineering, Sales, Marketing, Data, and
Operations to deliver substantial value to the enterprise. Over the
last five months, Vinayak has immersed himself in our business, and
has rapidly implemented several system enhancements, driving
disciplined reporting rooted in transparency and accountability,
and hired key leaders which enables us to take Wheels Up to the
next level, at an accelerated pace."
Hegde has spent over two decades leading the technology,
marketing, and product development sectors within world-class
organizations, including Amazon and Airbnb. He has been recognized
as one of the early innovators to combine data, product,
engineering, marketing, and revenue management to help companies
scale their consumer internet offerings, all of which perfectly
position him to lead the team and harmonize all functions of the
organization.
In his expanded role, Vinayak will focus on developing and
implementing a seamless and holistic approach to the customer, from
sales to the management of our Members' and customers' experience
and loyalty. Vinayak will drive world-class execution through
ownership of enterprise-wide KPI's across Sales, Revenue, Product,
and Operations that measure our performance and drive
accountability. Additionally, he will also lead key strategic
initiatives across the enterprise.
"I am incredibly fortunate to be a part of Wheels Up and humbled
for the opportunity to work with this extraordinary team who are
delivering exceptional service to our Members and customers in the
air and on the ground each and every day. I look forward
continuing to make Wheels Up a great place to work and the
preferred private aviation and lifestyle company for our Members
and operating partners," said Hegde.
About Wheels Up
Wheels Up Experience Inc. ("Wheels Up"), a leading demand generator
in private aviation, offers a total private aviation solution that
includes world-class safety, service, and flexibility through
on-demand flights, membership programs, corporate solutions,
aircraft management, whole aircraft sales, and commercial travel
benefits through a strategic partnership with Delta Air Lines.
Wheels Up is uniquely positioned to offer its customers and Members
access to over 1,500 safety-vetted and verified aircraft.
Through the Wheels Up App anyone can search, book, and fly.
Wheels Up Connect, Core, and Business memberships provide
enhancements, such as flight sharing, empty-leg Hot Flights,
Shuttle Flights, Shared Flights, signature Wheels Down events, and
exclusive Member benefits from preeminent lifestyle brands. The
Company's ongoing Wheels Up Cares program aligns with philanthropic
organizations and initiatives that affect and matter to the Company
and its customers, Members, stakeholders, families, and friends.
The Wheels Up Cares fleet is comprised of five custom painted
Beechcraft King Air 350i aircraft; each plane serves as a flying
symbol for a specific cause.
All Wheels Up flights are operated by the Company's
DOT/FAA-authorized air carrier subsidiaries (Wheels Up Private Jets
LLC, Gama Aviation LLC, Mountain Aviation LLC, Sterling Aviation
LLC, and TWC Aviation LLC) or by an approved vendor air carrier
that has undergone a comprehensive safety assessment.
Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains certain "forward-looking statements"
within the meaning of the federal securities laws. These
forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to,
statements regarding Wheels Up's expectations, hopes, beliefs,
intentions or strategies regarding the future including, without
limitation, statements regarding: (i) the size, demands and growth
potential of the markets for Wheels Up's products and services and
Wheels Up's ability to serve those markets, (ii) the degree of
market acceptance and adoption of Wheels Up's products and
services, (iii) Wheels Up's ability to develop innovative products
and services and compete with other companies engaged in the
private aviation industry and (iv) Wheels Up's ability to attract
and retain customers. In addition, any statements that refer to
projections, forecasts, or other characterizations of future events
or circumstances, including any underlying assumptions, are
forward-looking statements. The words "anticipate," "believe,"
continue," "could," "estimate," "expect," "intend," "may," "might,"
"plan," "possible," "potential," "predict," "project," "should,"
"strive," "would" and similar expressions may identify
forward-looking statements, but the absence of these words does not
mean that statement is not forward-looking. Forward-looking
statements are predictions, projections and other statements about
future events that are based on current expectations and
assumptions and, as a result, are subject to known and unknown
risks, uncertainties, assumptions and other important factors, many
of which are outside Wheels Up's control, that could cause actual
results to differ materially from the results discussed in the
forward-looking statements. Additional factors that could cause
actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied
in forward-looking statements can be found in the registration
statement on Form S-1, as amended, filed by Wheels Up, which was
declared effective by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission
("SEC") on August 24, 2021, and other
documents filed by Wheels Up from time to time with the SEC. New
risks and uncertainties arise from time to time, and it is
impossible for us to predict these events or how they may affect
us. You are cautioned not to place undue reliance upon any
forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date made,
and Wheels Up undertakes no obligation to update or revise the
forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information,
changes in expectations, future events or otherwise. These filings
identify and address other important risks and uncertainties that
could cause actual events and results to differ materially from
those contained in the forward-looking statements. We do not give
any assurance that Wheels Up will achieve its expectations.
Wheels Up Media Contact:
JONESWORKS
wheelsup@jonesworks.com
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SOURCE Wheels Up