Intrepid Travel has unveiled a new North American leadership team and structure. Led by Australian Leigh Barnes, the B-Corp travel company says these changes will help deliver on its visionary growth strategy.
Current Chief Customer Officer Leigh Barnes will step into the role of President of the Americas, and Canadian travel industry stalwart Christian Wolters will take on the newly created position of President of Canada.
Barnes, who has been with Intrepid for over a decade, will move into his new role in January 2025, leading operations, sales, and marketing across the region. Currently based in Melbourne, Barnes will relocate with his family to the Pacific Northwest U.S.
He previously led Intrepid’s North American team during a record period of growth from 2015 to 2018, and as the company’s first Chief Purpose Officer in 2019, he embedded impact into the company’s model, balancing purpose and profit.
“Intrepid’s brand has grown exponentially in North America – from our first tiny office in California over 20 years ago to our fastest-growing region globally,” said CEO James Thornton. “Under this new structure, the Americas will play a key role in our ambitious growth strategy for 2030.”
Further changes to the Americas management team include the transition of current President of the Americas Matt Berna to Senior Vice President, U.S. Sales & Operations and Global B2B External Sales.
Berna will remain President of the Americas until January 2025 and will focus on developing Intrepid’s domestic operations, including Intrepid-owned Wildland Trekking, U.S. B2B sales, and global business development for Intrepid’s DMC network. Berna has been pivotal in Intrepid’s growth and North American strategy.
Christian Wolters, returning to Intrepid as President of Canada and General Manager of North America Marketing effective July 1, 2024, is an established leader with a background as Chief Marketing Officer at TourRadar and a founding team member of Intrepid in Canada from 2008 to 2015.
Additionally, Tom Smith will take over as General Manager of Central America & Mexico, reporting to Managing Director of Latin America Gary Cohen. The Americas leadership team, including Matt Berna, Christian Wolters, and other key functional leaders, will report to the new Americas President, Leigh Barnes, starting January 1, 2025.
“This structure will help take Intrepid to the next level in the Americas,” added Thornton. “We know that travel brings people together, opens hearts and minds, and creates greater understanding. There has never been a greater need for this.
“The world needs more Intrepid people, and I believe this is the moment to double down on our opportunity in the USA and broader Americas region,” said Thornton.
Intrepid Travel also recently appointed French international hotel expert Celine Hurelle as Accommodation Strategy Lead to guide the B Corp travel company’s targeted expansion into the hotel and accommodation sector.
