James C. Murray
As a respected business leader and brand strategist with foresight, imagination, and a talent for driving unprecedented results, James Murray has an impressive history of amassing millions of revenue dollars and creating revolutionary growth strategies for world-renowned enterprises. Recognized as an expert in private jet services, business transformations, and product distribution, he has a consistent record of positioning organizations for success and demonstrating a profound dedication to corporate culture and profitability.
Currently acting as the Principal Consultant of Keystone Solutions, James serves as a trusted business advisor to diverse businesses around the world. In this capacity, he provides expert consultation, a global perspective, change management, and the service excellence needed to successfully redefine corporate cultures. He quickly built this operation through a robust referral stream based on the word-of-mouth praise of his delighted clients from the airline industry. He saved one client from massive financial losses and stopped logistical hassles by challenging norms and deploying a new operating strategy.
James also works as the Executive Vice President of Island Delights where he introduced the Grove Harvest brand, a line of “better for you” snacks and confections that has established itself with new distribution channels into leading grocery and specialty confection retailers. He positioned the company to sell products to Fortune 100 retailers by leading the organization through the robust BRCGS Food Safety Certification and establishing all documentation processes for the business.
Prior to these entrepreneurial roles, James ascended the ranks of Delta Private Jets over the course of 16 years, ultimately becoming the Vice President of Operations, where he led 350+ employees to excel in a $175 million organization.
By creating a groundbreaking program that encouraged the purchase of aircraft by individuals to place in an operating lease environment, he grew the aircraft fleet from 45 to 72 airplanes in 18 months without a single dollar of capital investment. He maximized annual revenue and occupancy rates by partnering with various businesses to offer deadhead flights at reduced rates. After authoring the business patent for the “Upgrade to Private Jet Travel” program, which enabled the capture of revenue on empty leg flights and enhanced brand loyalty from top-tier customers, he garnered great press coverage.
In one of his defining moments at Delta, James turned around an underperforming fixed-base operator (FBO), instilling a culture of operational and service excellence. By evaluating and renegotiating supplier and customer agreements, revamping the facilities with a $100,000 remodel, and restructuring the staff, he realized immediate and incredible wins for his team. He grew profits 150% in 18 months, saved 10% in fuel purchase costs, and boosted staff retention rates. During this time, he also worked to tackle the pilot shortage challenge by partnering with top aeronautical universities to develop ab-initio training programs that placed focus on crew resource management and standard operating practices, allowing for greater levels of safety and competency at lower total flight experience levels.
James has a Master of Business Administration fromThe Fuqua School of Business at Duke University, where he was elected as a Judicial Committee Representative and the Class Commencement Speaker. He also has a Bachelor of Science in Professional Aeronautics, with a minor in Business Administration, from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University.
When James is not advising top aviation executives, growing businesses, traveling the world, or flying his own classic taildragger as a licensed commercial pilot, he can be found relaxing at home with his wife and two children.