The Intrepid Group has announced that it has added two new senior executive roles to its global leadership team.

Michael Edwards, currently Intrepid’s regional director in Europe, Middle East and Asia, will move into the role of Chief Growth Officer (CGO), effective January 1, 2018, based in London, UK.

And Leigh Barnes, Intrepid’s director of North America, will take on the role of Chief Purpose Officer (CPO) on July 1, 2018, returning to Intrepid’s global headquarters in Melbourne, Australia.

Intrepid Group has seen record growth of 20 per cent per year across all of its brands since returning to independent ownership in 2015. As part of the company’s long-term vision, Intrepid CEO James Thornton created the roles to focus on sustained growth in both purpose and profit.

“The new senior executive roles are a testament to the rapid growth and innovation we are experiencing as a global leader in the tourism industry,” said Thornton. “We created these roles so that we can continue to fulfill our business’s founding philosophy of helping people and the planet through travel – while creating a new industry standard where purpose and profit are not mutually exclusive.”

It is Thornton’s belief that the roles will help Intrepid Group become the first billion-dollar adventure travel company, while donating $3 million into local communities through the Intrepid Foundation by the year 2020.

In his role as CGO, Edwards will manage Intrepid Group’s Regional Directors and Marketing Services team and will help Intrepid Group expand its Adventure Cruising program into Asia as well as launch its first Antarctica charters in partnership with Chimu Adventures. Edwards joined Intrepid in his current role in 2014, having held a similar role at rival G Adventures.

As CPO, Barnes will work closely with The Intrepid Foundation and external partners as Intrepid Group seeks to create more shared-value projects and operate a business with a purpose beyond profit. In 2018, it 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.

Barnes began his career with Intrepid in Melbourne in 2010 in the search and social media area of Peregrine Adventures, one of Intrepid’s six tour operator brands. He quickly rose through the ranks, moving to Toronto in 2014 to take on the role of Canadian Marketing Manager, and becoming Regional Director, North America two years ago.

“The board and the leadership team are confident that Leigh Barnes and Michael Edwards are the best people for their respective roles and ensure the company is both profitable and sustainable,” said Thornton.

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