APP Jet Center, a US provider of FBO and hangar services, has appointed Eric Hietala as chief operating officer. Hietala will lead all aspects of the company's FBO operations, as well as supporting the growth of the network. He will also join the company's executive leadership team.

Hietala brings deep sector knowledge of the business aviation industry and an exceptional track record of leadership through a strong focus on safety, customer service and employee wellbeing. These skills perfectly align with the execution of APP Jet Center's long‑term strategy and value creation.

“We are delighted to welcome Eric as our new COO,” says Mark Johnstone, CEO of APP Jet Center. “In the few short weeks since we closed the acquisition of APP Jet Center on 10 March, and with Eric joining the team, we now have an exceptional leadership team in place to deliver operational excellence, and growth.”

Prior to APP Jet Center, Hietala most recently served as a consultant to the business and general aviation industry. Previously, he held roles of increasing responsibility at Signature Aviation, where he most recently served as senior vice president of airport property development and senior vice president of the West region, overseeing 68 FBOs and more than 1,500 employees.

He says: “I'm truly excited to be joining APP Jet Center at the start of our growth journey. I'm looking forward to partnering with Mr. Johnstone, Bain Capital and the entire APP Jet Center team as we look to grow to a 30 plus location network.”

Last month, APP Jet Center announced its acquisition by Bain Capital, and two weeks ago also announced the hire of Sharyar Aziz as CFO.