NetJets CEO Jordan Hansell Steps Down

NetJets announced on June 1 that Jordan Hansell has left his posts as chairman and CEO after leading the fractional-jet-share company since 2011.

Succeeding him in those roles is Adam Johnson, who left NetJets just a month ago and rejoined before he was set to take a new role with another company. Also returning to his role as president and COO is Bill Noe, who departed NetJets two months ago.

“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,” said Hansell, who is joining Columbus, Ohio-based insurance marketer QuickInsured as executive chairman.

Hansell had taken the reins of NetJets as the company was returning to profitability in the wake of the economic downturn. Under his leadership, NetJets has been streamlining its fleet with new Signature Series models and has posted continued gains in revenue and profit. But his tenure also has been marred with labor strife that has led to lawsuits and mediation. 

Hundreds of NetJets pilots, represented by the NetJets Association of Shared Aircraft Pilots (NJASAP), had picketed in front of Omaha’s CenturyLink Center during the recent annual shareholders meeting of parent company Berkshire Hathaway to protest the protracted contract negotiations. NJASAP president Pedro Leroux recently reported that 98 percent of the pilots voted “no confidence” in Hansell, with 94 percent of NJASAP members participating in the vote.

The labor strife also led to the firing of a vice president in April for his role in anti-union activities. NetJets said at the time that the firing was a single incident unrelated to other management changes.

NetJets, noting that both Johnson and Noe were long-time company executives, said that bringing them back underscores its commitment to its owners and employees.