Intrepid Travel Names New GM of Operations for North America

Intrepid Travel has named Emily Jirout as its new general manager of North America. She will officially step into the role on April 14.

Jirout is currently serving as the senior people partner for North America at Intrepid. Her history with the company goes back to 2012, when she spent three years as human resources manager. She left in 2015 but returned in July 2022 to take on her current role.

“This is a natural next step, and I’m incredibly proud to continue serving a company that leads with both impact and ambition,” Jirout said. “I’m excited to help shape the next chapter of growth in the U.S. and to lead a team that reflects the best of Intrepid—real, bold, and purpose-driven.”

Her first task as GM will be to help recruit a new vice president of People, based in Seattle, a search Intrepid plans to begin next week.

The move comes as Intrepid undergoes what it’s calling “a structural evolution” within the Americas. Matt Berna, SVP for North America, will now focus exclusively on sales and partnerships, while Leigh Barnes, president of the Americas, will continue to lead the broader team. Those changes were revealed last year.

“Having an experienced Intrepid leader at the helm of U.S. operations is critical,” Barnes said. “Emily understands Wildland, she understands scale, and most importantly, she understands people. Her leadership will be key to unlocking our next phase of growth in the region.”