Intrepid Travel makes leadership changes in North America region

Intrepid Travel is making changes to its leadership team in North America as part of what the company called an “ambitious growth strategy.”

Leigh Barnes, who is currently Intrepid’s chief customer officer, will become president of the Americas for the adventure tour operator beginning in January 2025.

In his new role, Barnes will be responsible for leading all aspects of the region, including operations, sales and marketing. He will relocate to the Pacific Northwest from Intrepid’s global head office in Melbourne, Australia, where Barnes has spent over a decade working for the company. 

Barnes has experience leading Intrepid’s North America team, and did so during a record period of growth between 2015 and 2018 before going on to be appointed Intrepid’s first chief purpose officer in 2019. 

Matt Berna, Intrepid’s current president of the Americas, will transition to senior vice president of U.S. sales and operations and global B2B external sales. 

Berna will focus on the development of Intrepid’s U.S. operations, including Intrepid-owned Wildland Trekking, U.S. B2B sales and global business development for Intrepid’s DMC network. 

The company said Berna has been pivotal in Intrepid’s growth, including developing Intrepid’s North American strategy. He remains president of the Americas until January 2025. 

“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.” 

New Canada leadership

Intrepid is bringing back Christian Wolters in the newly created role of president of Canada and general manager of North America marketing, effective July 1, 2024. 

Wolters has spent the past nine years as the chief marketing officer at TourRadar, where he led the North America team from Toronto. Before TourRadar, Wolters was a founding team member of Intrepid in Canada from 2008 to 2015, culminating as general manager and vice president of sales. 

A new leader in Latin America

The changes also mark a new opportunity for Tom Smith who will be taking over the role of general manager, Central America & Mexico. 

Smith will report to Gary Cohen, managing director of Latin America, who is a member of  the Americas leadership team alongside Berna and Wolters. 

“This structure will help take Intrepid to the next level in the Americas,” Thornton said. “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.”