Michael J. “Mike” Silvestro is the chief executive officer (CEO) of Directional Aviation’s private fractional aviation travel businesses, which include Flexjet and Flight Options two of the world’s three largest fractional jet companies.
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Early life and career
Silvestro (born 1958) is an alumnus of the University of Notre Dame, where he earned a bachelor's degree in Marketing. At Notre Dame, he played football, and was only one of two non-scholarship players in his freshman class. He was coached by Daniel “Rudy” Ruettiger, the Notre Dame football player whose story inspired the movie Rudy.
After graduating from Notre Dame, Silvestro began his career at Owens Corning Fiberglas and then founded Spectrum Sports, a supplier of innersoles for athletic shoes. This launched a career in the footwear and sporting goods industries, where he spent 18 years. He founded several companies whose products ranged from high-technology polymer technology for athletic footwear to celebrity-endorsed, personal products.
Aviation career
Silvestro began his aviation career at Flight Options in 2000, where he served as Vice President of Sales and Marketing from 2000 to 2005. During his tenure, he helped to build Flight Options into the industry’s second-ranked company, with more than 200 aircraft and several thousand fractional and jet card customers.
Silvestro, who holds a private pilot’s license, held a senior position with fractional provider CitationShares from 2005-08. He returned to Flight Options as CEO in 2008, and helped to lead its recovery after the recession of 2008-09. In 2013, he also became CEO of Flexjet, after its acquisition by private aviation company Directional Aviation. Silvestro also is an investor in Directional Aviation, whose principal is Kenn Ricci, the chairman of both Flight Options and Flexjet. Silvestro currently is the longest-serving CEO in the fractional jet industry.
Silvestro has been quoted in such print media outlets as Barron’s PENTA Daily, The Financial Times and The Robb Report, and has appeared on TV, radio and digital outlets including CNBC (both the Street Signs and Closing Bell programs), Wall Street Journal Radio Network, MarketWatch Radio, Fox Business Network, and Bloomberg Television. He also appears on local and industry media.
Personal life
Silvestro is married to Mary Lynn Silvestro, his wife of more than 33 years. They have four children, two sons as well as two adopted children from Rwanda. Silvestro is a member of the Board of Trustees of Ursuline College and the Achievement Centers for Children.