Intrepid Expands Global Leadership Team

The Intrepid Group, a collection of six tour operator brands, has appointed two new senior executives on its global leadership team.

Effective Jan. 1, 2018, Michael Edwards will move into the role of Chief Growth Officer. Formally Intrepid Group’s regional director in Europe, Middle East and Asia, Edwards will manage Intrepid Group’s Regional Directors and Marketing Services team. In 2018, Michael Edwards will help Intrepid Group expand its Adventure Cruising program into Asia and launch its first Antarctica charters in partnership with Chimu Adventures. 

Michael Edwards

Meanwhile, Leigh Barnes will assume the newly created role of Chief Purpose Officer on July 1, 2018. Barnes, formally director of North America, will work closely with The Intrepid Foundation and external partners as Intrepid Group seeks to create more shared value projects. In 2018, Intrepid will be committing 0.75% of global revenue towards purpose activities, creating a team of dedicated employees to lead The Intrepid Foundation, and attaining B-Corp status.

Leigh Barnes

CEO James Thornton created the roles to focus on sustained growth in “both purpose and profit,” with a goal of  becoming the first billion-dollar adventure travel company, while donating $3 million into local communities through the Intrepid Foundation by 2020, the company said in a statement.