NBAA appoints Emily Deaton as SVP product development and sales
In 2022, Deaton was named to NBAA’s Business Aviation Top 40 Under 40.
The National Business Aviation Association (NBAA) has appointed former jetAVIVA CEO Emily Deaton as senior vice president for product development and sales.
Deaton will lead the creation of new offerings and experiences for members, forge strategic partnerships across the industry, launch new products and services and accelerate NBAA’s growth, the association stated in a press release.
“We are incredibly excited for the entrepreneurial drive Emily is bringing to this new role at NBAA,” said NBAA president and CEO Ed Bolen. “She is a dynamic growth leader, with a hands-on work ethic and proven track record. She is exceptionally qualified for this new position on NBAA’s leadership team as the association redoubles its focus on serving its members in a moment of rapid change for the industry in the US and around the world.”
For the past four years, Deaton has served as the CEO of jetAVIVA, where she grew annual revenue, expanded the company into new aircraft categories and built sales partnerships on five continents.
Chief financial officer Kathy Oberbroeckling will serve as interim CEO while jetAVIVA looks for a replacement.
“It has been my great honour to lead the jetAVIVA team,” said Deaton. “This company is built on a remarkable team, a beloved brand, and a culture that puts clients first. I am immensely proud of what we have accomplished together, and I have complete confidence in the leadership team taking the company forward. I look forward to supporting the business aviation community in my new role at NBAA, while continuing to cheer on the incredible team at jetAVIVA every step of the way.”
Before joining jetAVIVA, Deaton was a business development manager at Embraer Executive Jets, where she developed new markets and rebuilt the manufacturer’s process for tracking and pursuing sales opportunities. She also serves on the board of Angel Flight West and the International Aircraft Dealers Association.
NBAA created the role of senior vice president for product development and sales to expand the associations’s support for an industry that is “developing futuristic new modes of flight, new business models, a new generation of customers and workforce professionals and new opportunities across domestic and global markets”.
“Emily combines big-picture strategy and creativity with operational rigour,” said Bolen. “She is known for entering complex, fast-moving environments with a clear vision. We are thrilled for the innovation she will bring to NBAA and its role within the business aviation industry.”
jetAVIVA in transition
Incoming Interim CEO Oberbroeckling has been at jetAVIVA since 2016, overseeing the firm’s internal business matters and all of its M&A activity — including the acquisitions of Kansas Aircraft Corporation and Jet Quest.
Cyrus Sigari, founder and chairman of jetAVIVA said: “Over the past eight years, Emily has been an extraordinary leader for jetAVIVA, and her impact on this company will be felt for years to come. Under her leadership, the firm significantly grew annual revenue, expanded into new aircraft categories, and built sales partnerships on five continents. As much as we will miss her daily presence, we could not be prouder to see her take on a role shaping the future of the entire industry at NBAA. She leaves with our deepest gratitude — and with jetAVIVA stronger than it has ever been.”
Oberbroeckling added: “jetAVIVA is in a position of real strength — financially, operationally, and culturally. Emily built tremendous momentum, and this leadership team has worked side by side with her every step of the way. Our focus remains exactly where it has always been: helping people live the dream of flight.”
