Dépêches

Kenny Dichter Returns to Entrepreneurial Roots

Dépèche transmise le 22 juillet 2011 par Business Wire

NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Kenny Dichter, founder and former Chief Executive Officer of MarquisJet, and pioneer of the private aviation “jet card” industry, has stepped down from his role as Vice Chairman of NetJets Inc., but will continue to serve in an advisor capacity for the next year, focusing on branding, product development and owner engagement.

“The last eleven years have been a truly extraordinary journey – first as founder and CEO of MarquisJet and then as Vice Chairman of NetJets”

“The last eleven years have been a truly extraordinary journey – first as founder and CEO of MarquisJet and then as Vice Chairman of NetJets,” said Mr. Dichter. “While the sale of MarquisJet to NetJets in 2010 was the pinnacle of this journey, at heart, I am and always will be, an entrepreneur, and there is no better time for me to return to my roots and focus on building the next game-changer.”

Under Mr. Dichter’s leadership, MarquisJet established itself as the innovator and market leader in the private aviation “jet card” industry. A “marketer’s marketer,” Mr. Dichter was instrumental in developing unique and iconic strategic marketing partnerships for MarquisJet, including The Apprentice and American Idol. He also coined the tagline, “Only NetJets,” in 2006, which is still in use today. Mr. Dichter spearheaded the sale of MarquisJet’s European private aviation business to NetJets in 2004, orchestrated the sale of MarquisJet to NetJets in 2010 and oversaw the seamless integration of the two operations.

Prior to founding MarquisJet in 2001, Mr. Dichter co-founded Alphabet City, a sports marketing and music company which, in 1998, was acquired by SFX Entertainment, a publicly traded company led by Robert F. X. Sillerman. In 2003, Mr. Dichter founded, and remains the Chairman of, TOUR GCX Partners, which provides individuals and corporations with unique access to private club golf and other extraordinary golf experiences. In 2006, he founded MGX Lab, a full service, digital media, brand strategy and business development think tank. Four years later, in 2010, Mr. Dichter joined forces with Ken Austin to co-found Tequila Avion™, which, in less than one year since its introduction, has become an iconic lifestyle brand. Pernod Ricard USA recently announced that it had established an exclusive worldwide distribution agreement with the ultra-premium tequila brand, and acquired a minority interest in the company.

Mr. Dichter's entrepreneurial passion first came to light while he was a student at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, where he began an on-campus retail specialty store called Bucky's. He also worked closely with then-Chancellor, and later Clinton Cabinet member, Donna Shalala, currently president of the University of Miami, and the UW Athletic Department to create "Late Night With The Badgers," a pep rally hosted by nationally known sports personality Dick Vitale that led to a multi-fold increase in ticket sales and student participation.

Throughout his professional career, Mr. Dichter has been steadfastly committed to charitable endeavors. He serves on the boards of various charitable and not-for-profit organizations, including the Jack Martin Fund at Mt. Sinai Hospital, and works closely with Barry Alvarez, the Director of Athletics at the University of Wisconsin–Madison, on a number of development projects.