Adam Johnson Appointed Chairman And CEO, Bill Noe Named President And COO

Jordan Hansell has stepped down as President and CEO of NetJets, a move announced by the company with virtually no explanation. In a news release announcing a new management team, NetJets said only that he would be stepping down from those jobs.

Effective immediately, Adam Johnson has assumed the roles of chairman and chief executive officer and Bill Noe has been named president and chief operating officer of NetJets Inc. Johnson and Noe are long-time NetJets executives who know the company, its Owners, employees and operations exceedingly well. Putting these experienced NetJets leaders into new roles underscores the company’s commitment to both Owners and employees.

“We have an exciting opportunity to build on the strong performance the company achieved under Jordan’s leadership which included guiding us through the largest fleet refresh in industry history,” said Johnson. “For his hard work and his success in leading NetJets through a very tumultuous economic period, Jordan has earned our sincerest thanks and best wishes for his next endeavors.”

“Over the past six years, the NetJets team has performed exceptionally well,” said Hansell. “NetJets is very well positioned for future success and to grab hold of the opportunities before it. I wish my colleagues across the company every future success; they are a remarkable group of people who operate an extraordinary company.”

“NetJets has been my passion for nearly two decades,” said Johnson. “I am truly humbled – and excited – about the opportunity to lead this extraordinary company and its people and to contribute to its success. We have a culture of safety first and foremost, service to our Owners and support for one another; I intend to build upon that heritage.”

“Just a few months ago I left NetJets for a ‘can’t-say-no’ sort of opportunity,” said Noe. “The only thing that could have caused me to reconsider that decision was the chance to return to the company where I’ve worked for 22 years in a role that touches every department, every function and which lets me have a direct impact on our future success. I couldn’t be happier to be ‘home’ and to add my efforts to fulfilling our mission, vision and values.”

Prior to his new role, Johnson served as president of NetJets Inc. with responsibilities for marketing, sales, Owner services and Marquis Jet. Since joining NetJets in 1996, Johnson also served as the senior vice president for administrative services and over 15 years in the operations side of the business as a manager of NetJets Europe’s Flight Center, director of international trip planning, executive director of the NetJets Aviation Flight Center and senior vice president of logistics. Johnson received his bachelor’s degree in business management from The Ohio State University and is a licensed pilot.

Noe previously served as president and chief operating officer of NetJets Inc. starting in 2006. Noe joined NetJets in 1993 and served in a variety of positions during his tenure with the company including vice president of operations, director of operations, chief pilot and captain. Noe graduated with a B.A. from Marshall University, earning a degree in Liberal Arts.

The company has been in a protracted battle with the NetJets Association of Shared Aircraft Pilots (NJASAP), which represents more than 2,700 pilots who fly for the company. In a statement reacting to the management change, NJASAP President Pedro Leroux said the union views the leadership transition as an opportunity for the company to restore the trust of all employees – unionized and non-union alike.

"Newly appointed CEO Adam Johnson and COO Bill Noe bring much needed experience in both operational and labor relations to their respective positions," Leroux said. "Union Leadership looks forward to engaging the new team: We hope they share our goal of rebuilding a once progressive labor-management relationship.

"Similarly, Union Negotiators remain ready and willing to work with senior management to bring contract negotiations to a successful conclusion on behalf of our pilots.

"Considerable executive management turnover has taken place at NetJets in recent years, and NJASAP is cautiously optimistic the company has turned a corner with the return of experienced leaders," Leroux said. "As with all things, time will tell whether the new team has been empowered to work with employee unions to develop labor agreements that reflect their skill, professionalism, and dedication to the brand or if the agenda is the same – deep concessions in a time of tremendous profitability and expansion.”

FMI: www.netjets.com www.njasap.com