New start-up Adamaz Travel has named industry veteran Greg McCarthy as founder and Co-CEO, joining founder Ben Ross to spearhead the company’s global strategy focused on supporting small to mid-sized travel agencies.
Greg McCarthy brings over 35 years of experience in the travel sector, having founded and grown two highly successful travel management companies in Australia.
He previously served as CEO of Corporate Travel Management (CTM) Australia and New Zealand, where he led a diverse portfolio of brands spanning corporate, entertainment, leisure, loyalty and wholesale travel.
Known for his people-first leadership style and emphasis on service excellence, McCarthy’s background aligns closely with Adamaz Travel’s mission to provide thoughtful, professional support to independent travel agencies.
His appointment signals a step forward in building a leadership team equipped to drive innovation and growth. According to Ross, “Greg is one of the most successful CEOs in the corporate ANZ travel market. He has one of the best reputations in the industry for people and leadership… the partnership for me made complete sense.”
The two leaders first connected during the acquisition trail that saw CTM acquire Tramada and then Ross’s previous venture, 1000 Mile Travel Group. Their collaboration over the years fostered a strong professional relationship, which has now evolved into a strategic co-leadership.
McCarthy describes his return to entrepreneurship as a natural next step. “When I started talking to Ben about Adamaz, the concept immediately caught my attention,” he said. “After doing my research and confirming this gap exists in the global marketplace… I knew I had to join the mission.”
Who is Adamaz Travel?
Founded by Ben Ross only last month, Adamaz Travel was created to bridge a clear gap in the global travel landscape: succession planning and acquisition options for small to medium-sized agencies in Australia, New Zealand and the US. The company aims to support agency owners, their teams, and their clients through tailored transitions and growth pathways.
Its mission is: “where entrepreneurs look after entrepreneurs.”
In a recent interview, Ben Ross had told Karryon that more developments were underway, with another founder in the Australasian market joining Adamaz (meaning “diamond” in Latin) in July 2025. We now know that the co-founder and co-CEO is McCarthy.
With Ross based in Denver, Colorado, and McCarthy operating from Sydney, the company is positioning itself with leadership coverage across its core markets. McCarthy will reportedly lead on global strategic direction, business development, and client relationships, while Ross continues to drive operational growth.
“With me based in Sydney and Ben based in Denver, we are both really well placed to leverage our trust, relationships and knowledge of the industry in these two key initial markets,” said McCarthy.
Ross exited 1000MTG at the start of 2025 to set up the new entity. His wife, Nicola Veltman, continues to steer the brand and business, which marked its 10th anniversary in February 2025.
For more on Adamaz Travel, click here.
KARRYON UNPACKS: Adamaz Travel’s strategic leadership appointment signals its serious intent to reshape the future of small and mid-sized agency support. The Ross–McCarthy duo brings both innovation and grounded experience to the table, a partnership worth watching in the evolving global travel landscape.
