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JetSuite appoints new board member

JetSuite appoints new board member

JetSuite has appointed Zappos.com CEO Tony Hsieh to its board of directors, leading the brand’s latest $7 million round of investment funding.

Hsieh joins current JetSuite board members CEO Alex Wilcox, JetBlue and Azul founder and airline innovator David Neeleman, and Chairman of the Board Art Samberg at the company’s helm. Neeleman joined the company’s board when he invested in the business in October, 2010.

JetSuite’s latest round of investment funding will allow the airline to grow its fleet of Embraer Phenom 100 aircraft, adding two new planes this year and continuing with its expansion plans for 2012 and beyond. The airline currently serves various SuiteSpots throughout the Southwest and offers travel to and from the continental United States, Canada and Mexico.

“This is a dream team board for a disruptive business such as ours,” said Wilcox. “Our board brings the perfect combination of visionary experience, proven results and new distribution models for old products, all of which will contribute mightily to our re-invention of the private jet industry.”

“I’ve always been passionate about delivering unique experiences and great customer service,” remarks Hsieh. “JetSuite provides a level of service unparalleled in the airline industry. I’m excited to be a part of this innovative company.”

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In 1999, at the age of 24, Hsieh (pronounced Shay) sold LinkExchange, the company he co-founded, to Microsoft for $265 million. He then joined Zappos.com as an advisor and investor, and eventually became CEO, where he helped Zappos.com grow from almost no sales to over $1 billion in gross merchandise sales annually, while simultaneously making Fortune magazine’s annual “Best Companies to Work For” list. In November 2009, Zappos.com was acquired by Amazon.com in a deal valued at $1.2 billion on the day of closing. Hsieh’s first book, Delivering Happiness, debuted at #1 on the New York Times Bestseller list and outlines his path from starting a worm farm to life at Zappos.com.