Wheels Up Adds Key Senior Talent to Drive Business Transformation

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May 03, 2023, 10:43 ET

New Chief Digital Officer and Chief Customer and Marketing Officer to accelerate member-facing strategies

NEW YORK, May 3, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Wheels Up Experience (NYSE: UP) today announced two key additions to its senior management team to amplify its customer-focused business strategies and deliver on its profitability objectives.

David Godsman will join as Wheels Up's first Chief Digital Officer to lead the company's digital transformation and technology initiatives. In addition, Kristen Lauria will join as the company's new Chief Customer and Marketing Officer to focus on Wheels Up's member value proposition and customer acquisition.

"As Wheels Up continues to pursue our vision to make the extraordinary possible every day, I'm pleased to bring aboard two dynamic and seasoned leaders to help take our business to the next level," said Wheels Up Chairman and CEO Kenny Dichter. "David and Kristen each bring deep experience in business transformation at some of the largest and most successful companies in the world and will help deliver significant benefits for our members and customers."

Godsman brings an extensive background in digital transformation and technology leadership at the Fortune 100 level with more than 25 years' experience using technology and data to shape and scale businesses and improve consumers' lives. He joins from Foro – an industry-leading Fintech company focused on revolutionizing commercial lending – where he served as CEO and Director. He has also held senior digital roles at The Coca-Cola Company, Bank of America and Starwood Hotels & Resorts.

At Wheels Up, Godsman will oversee the company's Digital Product, Technology and Data Services teams and focus on leveraging its technology investments and infrastructure to drive business results, further improve operations and deliver an extraordinary member experience.

Lauria succeeds Lee Applbaum who is departing Wheels Up to focus on personal and entrepreneurial ventures. She steps into an expanded role that includes overseeing the company's brand, creative and customer acquisition and retention, as well as a special focus on the member and customer experience. She is already well versed in the business, having worked with the company as a management consultant since January 2023.

Lauria was previously the EVP and Global CMO of Cigna Corporation where she successfully launched Evernorth, a $100B health services brand. She also spent more than 15 years at IBM, where she led teams through significant business shifts like the rise of mobile, the move to the cloud and the establishment of Artificial Intelligence as a critical business tool.

Lauria is a proven transformational leader who has successfully developed highly diverse, high-performing teams and organizations that repeatedly deliver above and beyond. She will continue to drive our high-impact brand building initiatives with a particular focus on driving member growth and retention while working across the organization to help deliver an amazing member experience.

Godsman will officially join on June 1 and will be based in Charlotte, N.C. Lauria will join on May 15 and will be based in New York.

About Wheels Up
Wheels Up is a leading provider of on-demand private aviation in the U.S. and one of the largest private aviation companies in the world. Wheels Up offers a complete global aviation solution with a large, modern and diverse fleet, backed by an uncompromising commitment to safety and service. Customers can access membership programs, charter, aircraft management services and whole aircraft sales — as well as unique commercial travel benefits through a strategic partnership with Delta Air Lines. The Wheels Up Services brands also offer freight, safety & security solutions and managed services to individuals, industry, government and civil organizations.

Wheels Up is guided by the mission to connect flyers to private aircraft—and one another—and deliver exceptional, personalized experiences. Powered by a global private aviation marketplace connecting its base of more than 12,000 members and customers to a network of more than 1,500 safety-vetted and verified private aircraft, Wheels Up is widening the aperture of private travel for millions of consumers globally. With the Wheels Up mobile app, members and customers have the digital convenience to search, book and fly.

To learn more about Wheels Up, go to Wheelsup.com.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains certain "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the federal securities laws. Forward-looking statements are predictions, projections and other statements about future events that are based on current expectations and assumptions and, as a result, are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties, assumptions and other important factors, many of which are outside of the control of the Company that could cause actual results to differ materially from the results discussed in the forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements regarding the expectations, hopes, beliefs, intentions or strategies of the Company regarding the future, including, without limitation, statements regarding expectations relating to the impact of the leadership transition and the Company's future plans. In addition, any statements that refer to projections, forecasts, or other characterizations of future events or circumstances, including any underlying assumptions, are forward-looking statements. The words "anticipate," "believe," continue," "could," "estimate," "expect," "intend," "may," "might," "plan," "possible," "potential," "predict," "project," "should," "strive," "would" and similar expressions may identify forward-looking statements, but the absence of these words does not mean that statement is not forward-looking. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied in forward-looking statements can be found in the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2022 filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") by the Company on March 31, 2023, and other documents filed by the Company from time to time with the SEC. Moreover, the Company operates in a very competitive and rapidly changing environment. New risks and uncertainties arise from time to time, and it is impossible for the Company to predict these events or how they may affect the Company. You are cautioned not to place undue reliance upon any forward- looking statements, which speak only as of the date made, and the Company undertakes no obligation to update or revise the forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, changes in expectations, future events or otherwise. These filings identify and address other important risks and uncertainties that could cause actual events and results to differ materially from those contained in the forward-looking statements. The Company does not give any assurance that it will achieve its expectations.

SOURCE Wheels Up