Global tour operator Intrepid Travel announced key leadership changes to its ANZ team, representing Intrepid’s first all-female regional leadership team. This includes Sarah Clark returning as ANZ Managing Director, and Yvette Thompson promoted to General Manager – Sales & Partnerships to lead all partner relationships and commercial agreements.
What is Clark’s industry expertise?
Clark’s return to the Managing Director role for ANZ comes after a successful one-year secondment leading Intrepid’s global accommodation strategy. This includes the recently announced partnership with off-grid accommodation firm CABN. In returning to the regional managing director role, Clark will oversee the ANZ market and lead the CABN partnership.
Clark joined Intrepid in 2018 and has held a number of senior leadership roles at the business across, product development, sales and marketing and has been a member of the core management team for the past two years. Her career prior has spanned the retail and tour operator side in the UK, Canada and US. Clark is also a board member of Tourism Tasmania.
“I’m thrilled to be returning my focus to the ANZ markets. We’ve seen domestic travel return in waves and we are finally seeing the uptick and return of international travel as well. Intrepid has focused on increasing our number of female tour leaders and crew over the years and now I’m proud to lead our first-ever all-female regional leadership team,” Clark says.
“We know that solo female travellers are among our largest client groups and with this team, we have ambitious plans to grow rapidly and ensure more people explore the world with us.”
What will Yvette’s new role entail at Intrepid?
Supporting this move, Yvette Thompson has been promoted to the role of General Manager – Sales & Partnerships and will lead all partner relationships and commercial agreements across the Australia and New Zealand region. Thompson replaces Cameron Elliott who will head up Global Sales for Intrepid’s network of 25 destination management companies.
“I am looking forward to working closely with our partners to deliver new opportunities as we continue to grow. I’m excited to be recruiting for a partnership manager, who will ensure we provide our agents and partners the support they need as travel rebounds,” Thompson says.
Intrepid all-female ANZ leadership team includes Louise Laing, General Manager of Marketing ANZ; Julie Risteveski, General Manager of Inside Sales and Customer Experience ANZ; and Lauren McCormick, General Manager of Commercial Finance ANZ.
“I’m delighted to welcome Sarah back into the managing director role in Australia and New Zealand, particularly with the travel rebound well underway. This region remains a key one for Intrepid and with this leadership team in place, I have no doubt we will grow rapidly in the months ahead,” commented James Thornton, Chief Executive Officer at Intrepid.
Intrepid Travel is the largest adventure travel firm and a leader in sustainable experience-rich travel. It has been taking travellers to discover the world’s most amazing places for more than 30 years, with its mission to create positive change through the joy of travel.
