New Chief Digital Officer and Chief Customer
and Marketing Officer to accelerate member-facing
strategies
NEW
YORK, May 3, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Wheels Up
Experience (NYSE: UP) today announced two key additions to its
senior management team to amplify its customer-focused business
strategies and deliver on its profitability objectives.
David Godsman will join as Wheels
Up's first Chief Digital Officer to lead the company's digital
transformation and technology initiatives. In addition,
Kristen Lauria will join as the
company's new Chief Customer and Marketing Officer to focus on
Wheels Up's member value proposition and customer acquisition.
"As Wheels Up continues to pursue our vision to make the
extraordinary possible every day, I'm pleased to bring aboard two
dynamic and seasoned leaders to help take our business to the next
level," said Wheels Up Chairman and CEO Kenny Dichter. "David and Kristen each bring
deep experience in business transformation at some of the largest
and most successful companies in the world and will help deliver
significant benefits for our members and customers."
Godsman brings an extensive background in digital transformation
and technology leadership at the Fortune 100 level with more than
25 years' experience using technology and data to shape and scale
businesses and improve consumers' lives. He joins from Foro – an
industry-leading Fintech company focused on revolutionizing
commercial lending – where he served as CEO and Director. He has
also held senior digital roles at The Coca-Cola Company, Bank of
America and Starwood Hotels & Resorts.
At Wheels Up, Godsman will oversee the company's Digital
Product, Technology and Data Services teams and focus on leveraging
its technology investments and infrastructure to drive business
results, further improve operations and deliver an extraordinary
member experience.
Lauria succeeds Lee Applbaum who
is departing Wheels Up to focus on personal and entrepreneurial
ventures. She steps into an expanded role that includes overseeing
the company's brand, creative and customer acquisition and
retention, as well as a special focus on the member and customer
experience. She is already well versed in the business, having
worked with the company as a management consultant since
January 2023.
Lauria was previously the EVP and Global CMO of Cigna
Corporation where she successfully launched Evernorth, a
$100B health services brand. She also
spent more than 15 years at IBM, where she led teams through
significant business shifts like the rise of mobile, the move to
the cloud and the establishment of Artificial Intelligence as a
critical business tool.
Lauria is a proven transformational leader who
has successfully developed highly diverse, high-performing
teams and organizations that repeatedly deliver above and
beyond. She will continue to drive our high-impact brand building
initiatives with a particular focus on driving member growth and
retention while working across the organization to help deliver an
amazing member experience.
Godsman will officially join on June
1 and will be based in Charlotte,
N.C. Lauria will join on May
15 and will be based in New
York.
About Wheels Up
Wheels Up is a leading provider of
on-demand private aviation in the U.S. and one of the largest
private aviation companies in the world. Wheels Up offers a
complete global aviation solution with a large, modern and diverse
fleet, backed by an uncompromising commitment to safety and
service. Customers can access membership programs, charter,
aircraft management services and whole aircraft sales — as well as
unique commercial travel benefits through a strategic partnership
with Delta Air Lines. The Wheels Up Services brands also offer
freight, safety & security solutions and managed services to
individuals, industry, government and civil
organizations.
Wheels Up is guided by the mission to connect flyers to private
aircraft—and one another—and deliver exceptional, personalized
experiences. Powered by a global private aviation marketplace
connecting its base of more than 12,000 members and customers to a
network of more than 1,500 safety-vetted and verified private
aircraft, Wheels Up is widening the aperture of private travel for
millions of consumers globally. With the Wheels Up mobile app,
members and customers have the digital convenience to search, book
and fly.
To learn more about Wheels Up, go to Wheelsup.com.
Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains certain "forward-looking statements"
within the meaning of the federal securities laws. Forward-looking
statements are predictions, projections and other statements about
future events that are based on current expectations and
assumptions and, as a result, are subject to known and unknown
risks, uncertainties, assumptions and other important factors, many
of which are outside of the control of the Company that could cause
actual results to differ materially from the results discussed in
the forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements
include, but are not limited to, statements regarding the
expectations, hopes, beliefs, intentions or strategies of the
Company regarding the future, including, without limitation,
statements regarding expectations relating to the impact of the
leadership transition and the Company's future plans. In addition,
any statements that refer to projections, forecasts, or other
characterizations of future events or circumstances, including any
underlying assumptions, are forward-looking statements. The words
"anticipate," "believe," continue," "could," "estimate," "expect,"
"intend," "may," "might," "plan," "possible," "potential,"
"predict," "project," "should," "strive," "would" and similar
expressions may identify forward-looking statements, but the
absence of these words does not mean that statement is not
forward-looking. Factors that could cause actual results to differ
materially from those expressed or implied in forward-looking
statements can be found in the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the
year ended December 31, 2022 filed
with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") by the
Company on March 31, 2023, and other
documents filed by the Company from time to time with the SEC.
Moreover, the Company operates in a very competitive and rapidly
changing environment. New risks and uncertainties arise from time
to time, and it is impossible for the Company to predict these
events or how they may affect the Company. You are cautioned not to
place undue reliance upon any forward- looking statements, which
speak only as of the date made, and the Company undertakes no
obligation to update or revise the forward-looking statements,
whether as a result of new information, changes in expectations,
future events or otherwise. These filings identify and address
other important risks and uncertainties that could cause actual
events and results to differ materially from those contained in the
forward-looking statements. The Company does not give any assurance
that it will achieve its expectations.
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SOURCE Wheels Up
