BELLAIR ANNOUNCES LEADERSHIP TRANSITION

Incoming CEO Michael Vargo Announces Three New Members to the BellAir Leadership Team Current Chief Executive Officer, McQueen Campbell, III, to become Chairman

 

RALEIGH, North Carolina, February 20, 2024 – BellAir, the pilot-owned, luxury charter company, announced new members of its Leadership Team that will report to Michael Vargo as he assumes the role of Chief Executive Officer from McQueen Campbell, III, who remains with the company as Chairman.

 

“Under McQueen’s leadership, BellAir has made great progress and now has a solid foundation to build its future,” said Michael Vargo, CEO. “As BellAir continues to grow and evolve, there is a need to stay ahead of the curve. This new team structure will help position the company for future success while maintaining the strong company culture and enthusiasm for aviation that McQueen so passionately encourages.”

 

In this restructuring, MCQUEEN CAMPBELL, III will be elevated to Chairman. Campbell purchased BellAir in 2018, holding the title of Chief Executive Officer. During his tenure, he seamlessly combined his love for aviation with a forward-looking approach, ensuring that the spirit of aviation thrives in every aspect of BellAir. “These new members of the BellAir team are an ideal choice to lead this company into the future. They support my long-term vision for BellAir to drive growth and innovation on all fronts of this luxury charter operation,” says Campbell.  

 

Following an extensive search, BellAir is pleased to announce MICHAEL VARGO as Chief Executive Officer. “I’m thrilled to welcome Michael Vargo at the start of an exciting new chapter for BellAir,” said Campbell. Vargo is a proven business leader with 22 years of experience within the aviation industry who has an excellent track record of growing Part 135 Operators. Prior to joining BellAir, he was the General Manager at Mountain Aviation where he increased revenue from $25MM to $250MM and played a central role in the sale of the company in January 2021. “BellAir is an impressive business with an excellent reputation. I joined because I’m convinced of the brand’s strength and obvious growth potential,” said Vargo.

 

BRIAN GARFIELD joins BellAir as Vice President of Revenue Management with 15 years of experience working in the private aviation industry. He is an accomplished aviation transportation leader with an accurate understanding of the industry landscape. He has built a reputation for leading teams with a personable approach and pragmatic methods of problem-solving. “Career opportunities like the one at BellAir are rare. This is a small, dynamic charter where you can make real impact. My goal is to grow BellAir into a premier floating fleet operator while developing a team of professionals that want to immerse themselves in the company culture and thrive in the aviation industry,” said Garfield.

 

ERIN WARE joins BellAir as Controller and brings over 13 years of aviation industry experience. Her expertise in accounting and analytics is key to ensuring smooth financial operations as the company prepares for accelerated growth that includes expanding BellAir’s fleet and hiring new talent. “It feels good to be working at a company that’s about to undergo tremendous growth while remaining true to its values and legacy,” said Ware.

 

DANIELLE MARLIN brings over 12 years of aviation experience as BellAir’s new Operations Manager. She has a multifaceted approach to leadership and is committed to ensuring organized, effective, and productive operations across various divisions of the company. “I plan to focus on standardizations and scalability for departmental growth. I see opportunities where BellAir can innovate while strengthening the company’s existing relationships and closeness that has come to define the brand,” Marlin says. Marlin started her aviation career as a Flight Coordinator and has since implemented comprehensive training programs, oversaw a successful operations system changeover, and was integral during a seamless company acquisition.

 

“As BellAir continues to grow and evolve, it’s crucial that we hire top talent like Brian, Erin, and Danielle, who can contribute to the development of our business. Their combined experience and skills will be invaluable to BellAir, making us more agile, responsive, and able to position ourselves as leaders in the private aviation industry. I look forward to working with them,” concluded Vargo.