PRIVATEFLY.COM APPOINTS TRAVEL BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT SPECIALIST

Richard Smith has joined online private jet booking service, PrivateFly.com, in the new role of business development manager. This follows Alex Nott's appointment as website manager in July, and continues PrivateFly's UK team expansion - on the back of its successful first round investment funding earlier this year.

Smith brings over 10 years' travel industry experience including product management roles at lastminute.com and, most recently, as business development manager at Priority Travel Group. A core objective of his role at PrivateFly will be to accelerate the company's strategy of integrating private jet charter with the travel industry; focussing on partnerships in both the corporate and leisure sectors.

PrivateFly.com is a unique business model in the private jet industry, bringing the online search and price aggregation functionality already commonplace in other travel sectors to the traditionally 'offline' world of private jet travel. The company is also seeking a new chairman, following current chair David Scowsill's appointment as president & CEO of the WTTC. Scowsill will continue as Chairman until a replacement is found and will remain thereafter as an advisor to the board.

Carol Cork, co-founder and sales & marketing director of PrivateFly, commented: "Richard's appointment is an exciting step forward for our business development plans. He brings a wealth of contacts and experience from both business and leisure travel, and will play a key role in overseeing and growing our global partnerships with travel trade partners."

Richard Smith added: "I'm delighted to be joining PrivateFly at such an important time for the business. Private jet travel is often perceived by the travel industry as too complicated and lacking in online functionality, but PrivateFly is changing that, and I think 2011 will be an exciting year for the industry."

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