Led Growth Of American Technology Tirms In More Than 15 Countries 

Flight Explorer, a company that provides Internet-based real-time global flight tracking information as well as reporting and display products, has named James B. Kelly president and CEO. Kelly has directed the global growth of American technology firms in more than 15 countries around the world. He succeeds Walt Kross who led Flight Explorer for the past five years.

An experienced international executive, Kelly lived in Europe for 15 years. Before joining Flight Explorer, he was founder, president and CEO of SynXis, the leading hotel reservation management software provider, and its telecom spin-off, Innovectra. He was vice president, international, of BDM, an 8,000-person technical services firm now a part of Lockheed Martin. Kelly previously served as international programs vice president at SAIC and before that was deputy assistant secretary, Africa the Near East and South Asia, under Secretary Malcolm Baldrige in the second Reagan administration and was responsible for economic relations with 72 countries. His second and third languages are French and Italian.

While at Flight Explorer since 2001, Kross's accomplishments included revenue growth of more than 300%, dramatic customer base growth including the world's largest air cargo carriers, fractionals and airlines as well as the launch of a new division – Aircraft Data and Messaging (ADAM).

"Five years leading this talented, motivated, customer-obsessive team was a supreme privilege," said Kross. "Flight Explorer is well on its way to new levels of customer service for our important clients worldwide. Jim is the right person at the right time to take it to the next level and our many aviation-related customers should look forward to expanded products and services in the future."

"Walt is an exceptional leader and has built a company second to none in the global flight tracking and communications business," Kelly (above, right) said. "I look forward to working with the team and our many customers worldwide to make Flight Explorer even more vital to aviation operations."

FMI: www.flightexplorer.com