Gordon C

MAXjet appoints new CEO
By Alan Smith, 23 November 2006

Stansted-based, all-business class airline MAXjet announced appointing William Stockbridge as its new CEO. Stockbridge has been chairman of the firm since 2004, and replaces out-going CEO Gary Rogliano, who left to "pursue other opportunities."
Stockbridge has founded and worked with numerous airlines, raising substantial funding with investment banks. He is also a licensed aircraft engineer and pilot. Rick Sharp, who is currently a member of the MAXjet Board, has agreed to serve as chairman.

captjns

Seems that Gary may have been asked to resign his membership from the club.


Dear MAXjet Team,



I regret to inform you that Gary Rogliano has resigned as MAXjet’s CEO effective today for personal reasons. As most of you know, I have served as Chairman of the MAXjet Board of Directors since March 2004. As Chairman, and a frequent MAXjet passenger, I have had the opportunity to watch MAXjet grow from an idea on paper to an operating and growing transatlantic airline. This success could not have been achieved without Gary’s hard work and dedication.



I have agreed to serve as President and CEO of MAXjet effective immediately. I will step down as Chairman but will remain a member of the MAXjet Board. Mr. Richard Sharp, who is currently a member of our Board and a major investor, will serve as our Chairman. Mr. Sharp gained his business experience building such well known companies as Carmax, Circuit City, Crocs and Flextronics.



With respect to my own background, most recently I was Chief Executive Officer of Centurion Air Cargo, and prior to that I founded Gemini Air Cargo and served as its President, Chairman and CEO. I also served as the Chief Operations Officer of Presidential Airways. I began my career as a technical writer with Grumman Aerospace on the F-14 program, then was a powerplant engineer with Seaboard World Airlines and Pan American and later served in maintenance and engineering management roles at Pan American and People Express. I have an FAA airframe and powerplant license and a private pilots’ license.



My objective at MAXjet is to pick up where Gary left off and to continue to grow and develop MAXjet. Together with the entire MAXjet team we will continue with our vision of building a world class airline. I look forward to hearing from all of you how we can continue to improve our product and exceed our customers’ expectations.



Sincerely,



Bill Stockbridge

B757200ER

So we can assume this isn't 'rats leaving a sinking ship'?

captjns

Hardly... Chalk it up to creative differences.

Skyone

Nah, Probably the "Tim's" figured out a way to have him fired. Met Gary a couple of times and seemed like a real gentleman, at least from my perspective.

max767capt

Lets see. The CEO resigns. The CFO is gone also with no replacement. The COO leaves quietly. The Chief Marketing Officer was canned last spring with no replacement. The LCA termination lawsuit continues.

Things are kinda messy at MXJ right now. I'm kinda glad I'm not involved any more.

edik

Did you quit?

wtrav8r

I understand that they will hiring almost 40 Pilots within the next month or so.

Are any MaxJet pilots out there willing to share any inside info about what is going on internally???

MAXjetPilot767

I would just say don't believe everything you read from some, especially when it is so apparent any gloom or doom attached to events is an attempt to stir the pot or a need to validate something. In any corproate startup, not just in the airline industry is it uncommon for there to be a lot of change in the corporate structure for the first few years. Part of it is a product of starting out with a blurry picture in the beginning and it becomes more foucused as the process moves along, so the definition and demands of what is needed is a work in progress. Some of it is the skill sets needed in the right place at the right time. Start up and day to day tends to be quite different and some people are good at both where many's expertise lies in one or the other. Some of it is just plain old life. Peoples lives change, they have other goals, persue other opportunities, decide it's time for a change, etc., etc., etc.

Everything is currently on the same track it was 3 or 6 months ago. MAXjet will take delivery of two more aircraft in January and expand its destination and frequencies in the Spring when the aircraft come on line. It is continuing to target and persue future aircraft for aquisition. It will be hiring 42 pilots in Jan, Feb, and Mar with a class of 14 in each month as well as 96 flight attendants. November saw the launch of LAS-STN and it has started out above expectations, JFK-STN runs above 80% with full flights frequently and IAD-STN is doing ok. The company still sees enormous potential in the STN market and is continuing it's goal of providing an affordable business class with great service.

fireman0174

I've heard the MaxJet is not yet fully ETOPS certified. Is this true?