JetHQ has created a new international division and a promotion of Chris Morales to manage it. The aircraft transaction and brokerage company has announced that he will serve as JetHQ president Latin America, overseeing territories including Mexico, Central America, the Caribbean and South America.

Morales has been with the company since 2016 and had previously been vice president of sales, based in Tampa, Florida. He holds more than 25 years in direct aviation sales and management, including international experience throughout the Americas.

“Chris has proved himself time and time again as a leader whose expertise with the marketplace addresses the needs of aviation customers throughout the region,” says JetHQ founder and managing director Garett Jerde. “Before he came to JetHQ, he had firsthand experience managing the Latin America territory with Hawker Beechcraft. He has developed the insights and expertise needed to proactively meet the growing market demands and benefit our clients.”

JetHQ's Latin America division comes a year after it created international divisions covering Asia, led by Rohit Kapur, and Europe, the Middle East and Africa, led by Rebecca Johnson. Morales will continue to directly oversee Gabriela Perez de Leon, who is the sales director in JetHQ's Mexico sales office.

Morales began his career as a demonstration pilot and sales director with Mooney after graduating from the University of Central Texas. He moved to California selling factory direct Beechcraft King Air and piston products for 10 years before returning to his native of Florida. Now based in Fort Lauderdale, he took on the larger responsibility of Hawker and Citation Jet sales in Latin America for the next 10 years. His pilot background allows him to connect with prospective buyers directly, and he has more than 6,000 flight hours of experience.

Earlier this year, JetHQ bolstered its team domestically and internationally, adding David Coppock as its U.S. based vice president of sales. It also expanded services throughout Africa, going beyond its previously established office in Egypt, to serve customers in western and southern Africa.