Volato Group Strengthens Board Leadership with Appointment of Alan D. Gaines as Director and Audit Committee Chair
Volato Group, Inc. (“Volato” or the “Company”) (NYSE American: SOAR) has taken a significant step in reinforcing its corporate governance and strategic oversight with the appointment of Alan D. Gaines to its Board of Directors, effective immediately. In addition to joining the board, Mr. Gaines has been named Chairman of the Audit Committee, a role that places him at the center of Volato’s financial reporting, compliance, and risk management framework.
The appointment comes at a pivotal moment for Volato as the company advances its growth strategy, strengthens internal controls, and prepares for transformational initiatives, including its pending business combination with M2i Global, Inc. (OTC: MTWO). The addition of a seasoned capital markets veteran with extensive experience in complex transactions, infrastructure development, and board governance underscores Volato’s commitment to strong leadership, transparency, and long-term value creation.
A Veteran of Global Capital Markets and Strategic Transactions
Alan D. Gaines brings more than four decades of experience spanning global capital markets, energy, infrastructure, and critical mineral development. Throughout his career, he has been involved in more than 200 major financial and strategic transactions, collectively raising in excess of $100 billion in capital across equity, debt, structured finance, and alternative investment vehicles.
His career reflects deep expertise in navigating complex regulatory environments, structuring large-scale financings, advising boards and executive teams, and executing mergers and acquisitions across multiple economic cycles. This breadth of experience is particularly valuable for a publicly listed company like Volato, which operates at the intersection of aviation services, capital markets, and emerging strategic industries.
Mr. Gaines’ appointment strengthens Volato’s ability to oversee financial integrity, manage enterprise risk, and ensure adherence to public market governance standards—areas of increasing importance as the company evolves and expands its strategic footprint.
Leadership Across Energy, Infrastructure, and Innovation
Mr. Gaines currently serves as Executive Chairman, Chief Executive Officer, and Founder of several enterprises, including ALG Corp., ALG Media, Inc., Tidal NRG, and Innov8 Gases Corp. These ventures reflect his long-standing focus on energy innovation, infrastructure investment, and the development of next-generation industrial solutions.
Earlier in his career, he co-founded Gaines, Berland Inc., a full-service energy-focused investment bank that advised small- and mid-cap companies on capital formation, mergers and acquisitions, and strategic growth initiatives. Through this platform, Mr. Gaines worked extensively with management teams navigating public markets, regulatory requirements, and shareholder engagement—experience that aligns closely with the responsibilities of a public company board member.
One of the most notable chapters of his career was his tenure as Chairman of Dune Energy, Inc., where he led a landmark $540 million acquisition that resulted in a pro forma valuation approaching $1 billion. The transaction demonstrated his ability to identify value-creating opportunities, execute large-scale deals, and guide companies through transformative growth phases.
Strategic Advisory Experience at the Highest Levels
Mr. Gaines’ influence extends beyond transactional leadership into strategic advisory roles at the highest levels of corporate finance. Earlier in his career, he served as Chief Strategic Advisor to renowned financier Carl C. Icahn, one of the most influential investors in modern financial history.
In this capacity, Mr. Gaines played a key role in overseeing investments in major energy companies, including Gulf Oil, Texaco, Phillips Petroleum, and Marathon Oil. These experiences provided him with firsthand exposure to large-scale corporate governance, shareholder activism, capital allocation strategies, and the complexities of managing multinational energy assets.
This background has equipped Mr. Gaines with a sophisticated understanding of board dynamics, fiduciary responsibilities, and the importance of aligning management execution with shareholder interests—qualities that are essential for effective audit committee leadership.
Aligning with Volato’s Strategic Evolution
Mr. Gaines’ appointment is closely aligned with Volato’s strategic trajectory, particularly its pending merger with M2i Global, Inc., a company focused on building a vertically integrated critical minerals supply chain serving U.S. industrial, defense, and allied markets.
Critical minerals are increasingly recognized as strategic assets essential to national security, advanced manufacturing, aerospace, energy transition technologies, and defense systems. The combined Volato–M2i Global platform aims to address supply chain vulnerabilities by developing secure, domestic, and allied sources of these materials.
Mr. Gaines’ extensive background in energy markets, infrastructure development, and capital formation positions him as a valuable contributor to this strategy. His experience navigating complex, capital-intensive industries complements Volato’s efforts to expand beyond its traditional aviation services roots and into adjacent sectors with long-term strategic importance.
Strengthening Financial Oversight and Governance
As Chairman of the Audit Committee, Mr. Gaines will play a central role in overseeing Volato’s financial reporting processes, internal controls, audit relationships, and compliance with regulatory requirements. This role is especially critical for publicly traded companies operating in dynamic and evolving sectors.
Strong audit committee leadership helps ensure transparency, investor confidence, and accountability—key factors in maintaining access to capital and supporting sustainable growth. Mr. Gaines’ deep familiarity with financial structures, risk assessment, and governance best practices is expected to enhance Volato’s oversight capabilities as the company executes its strategic plans.
Commenting on the appointment, Mark Heinen, Chief Financial Officer of Volato, highlighted the value Mr. Gaines brings to the organization’s leadership framework:
We are honored to welcome Alan Gaines to the Volato Board. His deep experience in complex financial transactions, energy market dynamics, and board governance will be instrumental as we continue to strengthen our financial oversight and strategic direction. His leadership as Audit Committee Chair will further enhance our governance structure as Volato advances its business combination with M2i Global and expands into the critical minerals and technology sectors.
Support for Long-Term Growth and Risk Management
Beyond compliance and financial reporting, Mr. Gaines’ role on the board is expected to contribute to broader discussions around capital allocation, strategic partnerships, and risk management. His experience advising companies through periods of growth, transformation, and market volatility provides valuable perspective as Volato navigates a rapidly changing economic and geopolitical environment.
The aviation, energy, and critical minerals sectors are all subject to cyclical pressures, regulatory scrutiny, and global supply chain risks. Board-level insight from leaders with cross-sector experience can help management anticipate challenges, seize emerging opportunities, and maintain strategic discipline.
Perspective from M2i Global Leadership
Leadership at M2i Global has also expressed strong support for Mr. Gaines’ appointment, underscoring its relevance to the combined company’s mission. Major General (Ret.) Alberto C. Rosende, Chief Executive Officer of M2i Global, emphasized the strategic value of Mr. Gaines’ expertise:
Alan Gaines’ decades of leadership in capital formation and strategic oversight directly support the mission of the combined company. His expertise will enhance our ability to scale operations responsibly and accelerate our plans to deliver a secure and sustainable critical minerals supply chain for the U.S. and allied partners.
This alignment highlights the importance of governance and financial leadership as the combined organization seeks to balance growth ambitions with operational discipline and long-term resilience.
A Signal to Investors and Stakeholders
The appointment of Alan D. Gaines sends a clear signal to investors, partners, and regulators that Volato is committed to strengthening its governance framework and preparing for its next phase of growth. In public markets, board composition and audit committee leadership are closely watched indicators of corporate maturity and risk management capability.
By adding a director with extensive experience in capital markets, large-scale transactions, and strategic industries, Volato enhances its credibility with institutional investors and positions itself to navigate increasingly complex strategic initiatives.
Alan D. Gaines’ appointment to the Board of Directors and his role as Chairman of the Audit Committee mark an important milestone in Volato Group’s evolution as a publicly traded company. His four decades of experience in finance, energy, infrastructure, and strategic advisory roles bring depth, perspective, and rigor to Volato’s governance and oversight.
As Volato advances its merger with M2i Global and expands into critical minerals and technology-driven sectors, strong board leadership will be essential. With Mr. Gaines joining its ranks, Volato strengthens its ability to execute its strategy responsibly, manage risk effectively, and create long-term value for shareholders and stakeholders alike.
Source link: https://www.businesswire.com