Private aviation provider Wheels Up has named George Mattson as its new CEO, the company announced Thursday. He will assume the position in early October and be based in Atlanta. Interim CEO Todd Smith, who took over when founder and former CEO Kenny Dichter stepped down in May, will continue as CFO of the company.
Mattson has 25 years of aviation experience, according to Wheels Up. Since 2014, he has been the lead investor and chairman of Tropic Ocean Airways, an operator of seaplanes and a Wheels Up partner. From 2002 to 2012, he worked at Goldman Sachs, where his responsibilities included oversight of the transportation and airline practices.
Mattson also is a board member at Delta Air Lines, which is part of an investment group that in mid-August bailed out Wheels Up with a $500 million lifeline that gives the investors a 95 percent stake in the company. Delta also provided a cash infusion earlier in August when Wheels Up postponed its second-quarter earnings filing.
“With new leadership in place, Wheels Up is well-positioned to drive strategic, operational and financial improvements for its customers and stakeholders in the months and years ahead,” said Delta CEO Ed Bastian in a statement.
Delta in 2020 merged its Delta Private Jets business into Wheels Up.
