Aircraft brokerage and consulting firm Guardian Jet has promoted Dan Gardner, Zach Conover and William Smith to sales directors, expanding their roles across the company’s heavy jet, light jet and turboprop markets.
Gardner, based in Connecticut, will focus on midsize and large jet sales and acquisitions. Before moving into sales, he served as Guardian Jet’s director of operations, supporting a record volume of transactions. He previously spent four years at McKinsey & Company.
Conover, based in Chicago, and Smith, based in Connecticut, will both serve clients through the firm’s Light Jet & Turboprop Division. Conover joined Guardian Jet in 2022 and contributed to more than 20 transactions totaling approximately US$285 million in 2025. Smith joined in 2021 and has supported more than 65 transactions totaling over US$500 million since 2023. Both hold aircraft broker certifications from the International Aircraft Dealers Association (IADA).
“The best thing about promoting from within is that our clients already know and trust these individuals,” said Gabriel Bastos, managing partner and head of global sales at Guardian Jet. “Dan, Zach and Will didn’t just close deals, they built the kind of relationships that bring clients back.”
