Austin C. Willis is the CEO of Willis Lease Finance Corp, having stepped into this role in April 2022 after serving as the Senior Vice President of Corporate Development. His professional journey kicked off with founding J.T. Power LLC, where...

Austin C. Willis is the CEO of Willis Lease Finance Corp, having stepped into this role in April 2022 after serving as the Senior Vice President of Corporate Development. His professional journey kicked off with founding J.T. Power LLC, where he specialized in selling commercial aircraft engine parts and leasing. His expertise in finance comes from his education at the London School of Economics, which adds weight to his decision-making abilities in the aviation leasing sector. Notably, Austin also spent time in the U.S. Army as a Green Beret, showcasing his leadership skills under pressure. He has a strong connection to the company and its background, being the son of the founder and current Executive Chairman, Charles F. Willis IV. In his current role, Austin has implemented performance metrics that significantly increased his compensation in 2023 to over $6.6 million, reflecting both his contributions and the company’s growth. Austin owns about 12% of the company, indicating he has a personal stake in its success and aligns his interest with that of the shareholders. His rise through the ranks, coupled with hands-on experience, uniquely positions him to lead Willis Lease Finance into the future.

Quick Links

1. Rivals

2. Holdings

3. Insider Trading

4. Compensation History

5. Other Willis Lease Finance CEOs

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Austin C. Willis

CEO of Willis Lease Finance

Education

Bachelor's degree from the London School of Economics and Political Science

Field of Expertise

Finance & Banking - Finance

Sector of Economy

Industrials

Born

January 1, 1980 - 45 years ago

CEO of Willis Lease Finance for

3 years 2 months (Apr 2022 - Present)

Previous Experience

Founder of J.T. Power LLC, CEO of Aviation Management LLC, Senior Vice President, Corporate Development at Willis Lease Finance Corp.

Rivals

Competitors/colleagues of Austin C. Willis

Holdings

See how much did Austin C. Willis make over time.

Austin C. Willis has shown a strong financial investment in Willis Lease Finance Corp. As of early 2024, he held approximately 859,119 shares, which is about 12.13% of the total shares outstanding. He has seen fluctuations in his stock value...

Austin C. Willis has shown a strong financial investment in Willis Lease Finance Corp. As of early 2024, he held approximately 859,119 shares, which is about 12.13% of the total shares outstanding. He has seen fluctuations in his stock value over the years, peaking as high as $90.73 million of value in September 2024. The values of his holdings were notably higher post-2023 when his stock increased significantly after he implemented new performance metrics as CEO. His holdings represent a considerable amount of wealth tied directly to the performance of the company, reinforcing a sense of accountability and motivation to drive the company forward. Having once established a successful company, his current stake reflects not only his commitment to Willis Lease but also a shared future with its shareholders.

Mar 18, 2025

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shares

WLFC @ $178.89

Total Stock Sold

$8.11M

WLFC

$8.11M

148,915 WLFC shares

What if they kept their stock?

If Austin C. Willis didn't sell their stock, today they would have:
Extra WLFC148,915 shares worth $3.76M.
This is -53.63% and $4.35M less than what they got when they sold the stock.

Charitable Transactions

WLFC

2,824 shares

WLFC

Recent Charitable Transactions

WLFC

170 shares

WLFC

Dec 26, 2024

Charity

WLFC

984 shares

WLFC

Jun 8, 2022

Charity

WLFC

760 shares

WLFC

Nov 29, 2021

Charity

WLFC

910 shares

WLFC

Dec 30, 2020

Charity

Insider Trading

See recent insider trades of Austin C. Willis.

WLFC

$705.38K

WLFC at $204.46/share

Mar 3, 2025

Sale

WLFC

$661.67K

WLFC at $191.79/share

Feb 3, 2025

Sale

WLFC

$1.66M

WLFC at $212.96/share

Jan 2, 2025

Received

WLFC

$717.41K

WLFC at $207.95/share

Jan 2, 2025

Sale

WLFC

170 shares

WLFC

Dec 26, 2024

Charity

WLFC

170 shares

WLFC

Dec 26, 2024

Charity

WLFC

$692.78K

WLFC at $200.81/share

Dec 6, 2024

Sale

WLFC

5,000 shares

WLFC

Dec 6, 2024

Charity

WLFC

$3.25M

WLFC at $48.78/share

Apr 1, 2024

Received

WLFC

$620.54K

WLFC at $44.32/share

Nov 13, 2023

Sale

Compensation History

See how much did Austin C. Willis make over time.

In 2023, Austin C. Willis earned a total compensation of around $6.68 million, which marked a significant increase from his 2022 earnings of approximately $1.95 million. This jump was largely driven by a bonus of about $1.95 million based on performance metrics aligned with the company's success. Additionally, his base salary increased to $697,375, and he received other benefits like insurance and personal use of company planes. The structure of his compensation is designed to tie his earnings closely with the company's financial performance and effectiveness, enabling him to attract and retain top talent in the competitive aviation leasing market. His pay reflects the high expectations and responsibilities that come with leading a company of this nature.

Year

2023

Total Compensation

$2.87M

Salary

$697.38K

Board Justification

The compensation philosophy emphasizes alignment with company performance, peer benchmarking, and retention strategies to attract and retain top talent.

Bonus

$1.95M

Board Justification

The bonus is based on performance metrics established by the Compensation Committee, reflecting the company's financial performance and individual contributions for the year 2023.

Other

$220.32K

Board Justification

Other compensation includes a 401(k) matching contribution, insurance premiums, personal use of company planes, financial advisory services, club membership dues, and personal use of a company car.

Restricted Stock

$0.00(0 N/A)

Board Justification

No stock was vested in 2023 as the amounts listed pertain to stock awards granted, not vested stock.

Performance Metrics

Performance metrics include financial performance indicators and individual contributions as determined by the Compensation Committee.

Other Willis Lease Finance CEOs

Here are other CEOs of Willis Lease Finance

Charles F. Willis, IV

Founder and Ex-CEO of Willis Lease Finance

September 2006 - April 2022