Ernst succeeds Scott Milford, who will serve in a consultative role until the end of 2024.
“Ezra brings the combination of operational and strategic excellence to the position, while also having a deep understanding of the company, the industry and key partners,” said XWELL chairman of the board, Bruce Bernstein. “This strategic leadership change will propel XWELL forward in its next phase. I trust that Ezra will deliver purpose-driven growth for XWELL through continued innovation and expansion, and ultimately returning the company to profitability. We appreciate Scott’s hard work transforming the company into what it is today.”
Most recently CEO of XWELL brands XpresCheck and HyperPointe since January 2022 and March 2020, respectively, Ernst has a strong track record, with more than 30 years of experience driving revenue, developing strategic partnerships and delivering operational excellence.
Ernst increased revenue and reputational awareness through his leadership of XpresCheck, where he developed the Traveler-based Genomic Surveillance (TGS) programme with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). It has expanded from a small pilot programme leveraging XpresCheck’s leading COVID-19 testing programme and HyperPointe’s marketing expertise to a more permanent part of the United States’ biosecurity infrastructure.
“I am excited for the opportunity to lead XWELL in the next chapter of its evolution,” said Ernst. “We are positioned for growth across our brands, and I am very confident in our people to carry through the vision and strategy we have developed.”
In the near term, Ernst plans to evolve the company’s current footprint in and out of the airport by further integrating technology across its portfolio.
“I look forward to making meaningful progress through geographic expansion, acquisitions and technology, while also focusing on broadening the full potential of autonomous technology and catering to the preferences of today’s tech-savvy consumers,” he said.
