Q&A with Philipp Wieser

Philipp Wieser, former Jetcraft Sales Director, Central Europe
Location: Zürich, Switzerland

How long have you been at Jetcraft?

I joined Jetcraft in March 2018 so I have been there just about a year now.

What are your responsibilities within the global Jetcraft team?

I am the Sales Director for Central Europe and based in Zürich, Switzerland. I oversee Austria, Germany, Hungary, Italy and Switzerland. My role is to assist our clients in the process of purchasing a new aircraft or selling their current one, prospecting new clients and keeping up the relationship with them as well as with colleagues and partners of the industry.

Describe a typical day or week in your role.

I wake up before 07:00 am and start my day with a coffee while checking e-mails that came in through the night. I try to make time for a work out before getting ready for the day. So much to a possible routine, as really the days are always different and I have to prepare either for a day in the office or for travelling. For a day in the office I spend time catching up on e-mails, following up on current deals or leads and taking care of administrative tasks. For days of traveling, nothing compares to face-to-face meetings, so traveling is a major part in our business, whether visiting existing clients, meeting new ones or attending events and conferences.

What do you love most about your job?

As a sales person for business jets I deal with basically every little detail that comes with the transaction – where and how was the aircraft built, its technical and cosmetic details, its history if pre-owned, and finally the whole process of selling / re selling it. I started my aviation career as a pilot on corporate jets and after a while I honestly got quite bored just flying the aircraft. In Aircraft Sales I can speak to manufacturers, the pilots, the technicians / engineers, the bank, the legal counsel and last but not least to the owners. Every transaction, every person I meet is different and unique in its own way which makes my job everything but monotonous … that is what I love.

Describe the company culture at Jetcraft and what it means to you?

Before I joined Jetcraft I had already met many employees and always admired the family atmosphere. After I joined the company this picture just became clearer: from the owners, the board of directors, and all employees, everybody works with this family spirit and are happy to help and assist each other. I feel like I belong to something that is more than just a company, and it motivates me even more to go out there and work as hard as I can.

What do you want your customers to experience when dealing with Jetcraft?

I want them to see that Jetcraft is not just trying to close a deal but we want to create a long-term relationship where we build a mutual trust and partnership, and we truly want to help them achieve their goals. I want to always provide accurate and detailed information and knowledge and for them to know that we can reach the whole world in an instant through our worldwide reach. When a client buys or sells an aircraft with us, I want them to have a good experience that makes them want to come back to Jetcraft when they need assistance again.

Who or what has been your greatest professional influence?

My father. I grew up 100 meters from Innsbruck Airport in Austria where he worked as an air traffic controller and operational procedure designer for airlines and owner pilots. As a young boy I spent countless hours at the airport, in the control tower or at airline offices. He not only triggered the passion for aviation but also taught me how to motivate myself to go the extra mile.

I also have to mention my clients who all are very successful business people from whom I learn every minute I spend with them.

Describe yourself in 3 words.

competitive, persistent, cosmopolitan

If you were to buy a business jet, which aircraft would suit your needs and why?

I would buy a pre-owned long-range jet and have the interior and exterior changed to my personal taste. I could independently discover every corner and culture of this world whilst taking my whole family and some friends with me.

What stands out to you as good customer service?

To provide accurate and detailed information as fast as possible and to not only be there for my clients during the deal, but also to follow up and keep up the relationship so I can be there for them even after a transaction has been completed.

Finally, what is your hidden talent or hobby?

I started skiing and playing football (soccer) at the age of 3 and performed those sports competitively until the age of 19. Today I enjoy cooking together with my wife — we love to have family and/or friends over and welcome them to a nice dinner! Also taking our kids skiing in winter or to the beach in summer would complete a perfect day together.