US private aviation firm Jets.com has hired Andy Balser to lead its newly established partner relations and procurement department. The department will strengthen how Jets.com sources aircraft, manages supplier relationships and works with operators to deliver consistent quality, responsiveness and value to clients.

The new function will work across operations, sales, safety and client experience to deepen operator partnerships and establish clearer commercial and service standards. By centralising supplier strategy, contract management and performance insights, Jets.com will be able to source aircraft more efficiently while continuing to prioritise the safety, quality and personalised service its clients expect.

“Andy understands that excellent partnerships begins with trust,” says Dan Satterlund, chief operating officer of Jets.com. “He has spent his career building productive relationships with both clients as well as operators while using data, clear standards and accountability to improve service quality. His leadership will create greater consistency for our teams, more value for our partners and an even better experience for our clients. We are proud to welcome him to Jets.com.”

Balser brings nearly three decades of private aviation leadership spanning supplier relations, client experience, service quality and operations. Most recently, he served as vice president of supplier and partner relations at Air Partner and Wheels Up, where he managed commercial relationships with third-party suppliers across the company's global operations.

His previous leadership experience includes senior roles with NetJets, ARGUS International, Jet Edge International, Hawker Beechcraft and Nexus Flight Operations Services.

“I'm genuinely excited to join the Jets.com team and help build a new organisation rooted in strong, reciprocal relationships with our suppliers and partners,” Balser says. “The best partnerships are built on trust, clear expectations and shared accountability. When we invest in those relationships, we create better outcomes for our partners and deliver a more consistent, higher-quality experience for our clients.”

“I've worked alongside Andy for years, and he's one of the most respected relationship-builders in our industry,” adds Vincent Kavanagh, executive vice president of sales at Jets.com. “Stronger operator partnerships mean our team can offer clients more options, faster answers and greater confidence in every flight. His experience will make a real difference for our clients.”

Under Balser's leadership, the partner relations and procurement department will develop the supplier programmes, standards and relationships needed to support Jets.com's continued growth across its on-demand charter and jet card offerings, while reinforcing the relationship-driven approach that has defined the company since 2008.