Teterboro-based Meridian has promoted Emil Iannone to COO of Meridian Air Charter. He will be responsible for managing and streamlining the charter business, including charter operations, charter sales, aircraft management and marketing. Iannone has served as director of operations since 2013, when he returned to Meridian after 13 years in the financial industry, and he will be based at the company's headquarters at Teterboro airport in Teterboro, New Jersey.

The organisational restructuring comes as part of the company's overall growth strategy, and is designed to allow Dennis O'Connell, president of Meridian Air Charter, more time to focus on other critical aspects of the charter business. These include owner relations, aircraft maintenance and accounting. Together, O'Connell and Iannone will be responsible for the strategic direction of the charter organisation.

“I am very excited for this opportunity,” says Iannone. “I'm honoured to be working side-by-side with Dennis to help ensure our charter operations meet the needs of a rapidly changing marketplace and continuing to grow our charter and aircraft management operations. I look forward to contributing to Meridian's ongoing success.”

Iannone started flying in the mid-1980s at Teterboro airport before attending American Flyers Academy. After graduating and earning his CFI, he returned to Meridian as an instructor pilot, moving up the ranks to chief pilot. In 1994, he was promoted to director of operations, overseeing the daily operations of Million Air Charter, when the company was part of the franchise. Iannone also spent some time during his early career flying for a private flight department. He is type rated in Gulfstream, Learjet and Cessna Citation aircraft.

In 2000, he was offered the opportunity to take his talents and expertise to a New York City investment banking firm. As senior vice president, he oversaw the daily operations of several key areas of the company, including security, purchasing and ground transportation. His managerial skills translated well from aviation to this environment and he spent a successful tenure there. In 2013, the allure of aviation brought him back to Meridian, when he rejoined the company as director of operations.

“We are very pleased to have Emil managing the day-to-day operations of Meridian Air Charter,” states CEO Ken Forester. “He has the operational experience and people skills to help navigate the challenges of the ever-changing charter landscape. Having operations, sales and marketing under his leadership will help us to compete more effectively in today's marketplace. Emil's new position will also allow Dennis greater bandwidth to focus on the other key areas of the operation. Together, they will be a powerful team in moving the business forward.”