PrivatAir has appointed Greg Thomas as chief executive officer, succeeding David Hurley. The group’s board of directors has tasked the 36-year-old, with building on PrivatAir’s pace of profitable growth, together with expanding the reach of the company’s branded services.

Thomas has been PrivatAir’s chief operating officer since December 2000, overseeing a period of growth during which the company acquired Flight Services Group in the US and Transair in France.

Thomas plans to build on the expansion of PrivatAir’s management fleet in the US, the introduction for the first time of Airbus aircraft into the company’s fleet and developing new opportunities in Europe and the Middle East.

David Hurley, ceo for the past three years and founder of Flight Services Group, will become vice chairman of the board. “I am very honoured to move o the position of vice chairman of PrivatAir SA,” said Hurley. “I have enjoyed working closely with Greg over the past three years and I know that he has the experience, leadership ability and energy to continue the pace of growth and profitability we have established together.”

As the company expands, Thomas decided to reorganise PrivatAir on a regional basis, headed by two experienced PrivatAir executives.

Hugh Regan, group chief financial officer, has been appointed president of PrivatAir Inc and coo of North American operations.

Dave Kitson, executive vice president of business development, takes up the position of coo of European and Middle Eastern operations.