John Bevan joins private jet company as a non-executive director, and will steer growth via new distribution channels
PrivateFly, www.privatefly.com, the online private jet broker,
today announces the appointment of former Lastminute.com MD, John Bevan,
as a non-executive director. The move will provide a significant boost for the company's plans to apply
online travel strategies to the traditionally offline private charter market.
Key to Bevan's appointment is his ability to drive new distribution channels.
PrivateFly promotes a full 'white label' solution for travel partners, which includes
the private jet booking technology, destinations and instant pricing.
Commenting on the appointment, CEO and founder, Adam Twidell, said:
"We are delighted that John is joining us, and his appointment underpins our ambitious expansion plans.
He brings invaluable skills, industry contacts and online marketing expertise, all of which will
provide a powerful boost to the business.
John Bevan added: "PrivateFly has the potential to bring about exciting change in the private jet market,
and a great opportunity for the travel industry, given it offers significant opportunity to unify what is
currently a fragmented market. Brokering has been transformed by the use of the internet in nearly all other
markets, except private aviation.
"PrivateFly is a unique, user-friendly tool for customers and travel partners alike, and I'm looking forward to working with the team during this exciting phase."
PrivateFly's unique software allows customers to submit a flight request and compare prices from a network
of 2,600 operators worldwide, who bid to win the flight. Crucially, the business model also combines
online efficiency with offline VIP service, along with real industry expertise from PrivateFly's team,
led by Twidell, a former RAF and NetJets pilot.
-Ends-
Notes to editors
About PrivateFly:
PrivateFly is an online booking network that makes it quicker,
easier and more cost effective to arrange private jet charter.
With over 2700 operators registered worldwide,
PrivateFly is the only online aggregator for Private Jet charter in Europe.
PrivateFly combines online efficiency and transparency with offline expertise to offer a full-service
VIP charter service to direct customers and partners. The bespoke software has been created in-house
specifically to meet the needs of charter customers and operators .
PrivateFly won a travel Industry "Dragons Den" in May 2008, voted 'most innovative travel company of 2008' by the audience of travel Industry delegates and Investors.
Founded in 2007, the company is based in St Albans, Hertfordshire and has plans to expand within Europe and selected international markets in 2010.
About John Bevan:
John Bevan joined the PrivateFly board in August 2009 as a non-executive director.
Prior to this John was lastminute.com UK managing director.
He held a variety of roles within the lastminute.com group over eight years,
including holiday director and then travel director. John joined lastminute.com following
the acquisition of Online Travel Company (OTC), where he was marketing and product director and was
responsible for a number of leading websites including bargainholidays.com, Onlinetravel.com,
Ferrybooker.com and Ifyouski.com. He played a central role in the acquisition of the ifyoutravel brands -
including ifyouski, ifyoudive and ifyougolf - and merging these brands within the OTC portfolio.
Prior to OTC, John was at EMAP Digital Travel, where he rose through the ranks to reach the role of
managing director, restructuring the company prior to its sale to OTC in June 2001.
John started his career in travel as international sales director for hotel group Groupe Envergure.
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