To: OSI internal Subject: A message to the OSI family
To everyone at OSI,
This is a harder message to write than I expected.
When I first became CEO, I honestly wasn’t thinking about legacy or big statements. I just wanted OSI to work, and to work well, and to be something we could all stand behind. Over time, thanks to you, it became that and more.
As most of you know, this isn’t my first time in this role. I’ve stepped away before, and I was brought back when the organization needed continuity and familiar hands. That trust meant more to me than I probably ever said out loud, but I hope my actions and me flying alongside with you showed it.
After a lot of thinking, and more than a few quiet moments where I probably should have been sleeping, I’ve decided to step down from my role as CEO. This isn’t because anything is wrong, nor my age (though it plays a role). OSI is in good shape. Strong teams, solid operations, people who know what they’re doing. That’s exactly why this feels like the right moment. We don’t have a successor to announce yet. That will come in time, and it will be handled carefully and trust me, the board is active on this as we speak. In the meantime, things continue as they are. No sudden changes, no alarms, no dramatic hand-offs, and no CEO being unavailable.
I’ll also say this clearly: I’m not leaving OSI. I’ll remain on the board and stay involved in the long-term direction of the organization. I’m just moving out of the day-to-day captain’s chair.
There’s also a personal side to this, and it feels right to acknowledge it. I lost my wife sometime ago, and that changes how you see the world. She was a huge part of my strength—often the part that carried me through days when I didn’t feel particularly strong myself. Even now, her presence is still there, pushing me forward when I hesitate. Stepping away from this role isn’t about running from anything. It’s about listening to that part of me she always understood—the one that needs to move, to explore, to see what’s out there. That’s how I found my footing once before, and I think it’s time to do that again.
This time, at least, I’ll be doing it with better cooking skills than I had back then. She made sure of that. Future crews have been warned. I came back as CEO because OSI needed it. I’m stepping away now because it doesn’t need *me* specifically anymore, and that’s a good thing. It means we did our jobs right.
So thank you—for the work you do, for the trust you placed in me, and for the way you show up for each other when it matters. Leading OSI—twice—has been one of the great privileges of my life. Do know I’ll still be around, just maybe a little farther out, and probably sending the occasional message from somewhere with bad comms and a surprisingly decent galley.
Take care of each other.
With respect, love and admiration from a fellow pilot,