by Mia Taylor
Last updated: 4:20 PM ET, Tue August 6, 2024
Intrepid has recruited a senior member of President Obama’s administration to become the global travel company’s first Chief Impact Officer.
Payton Iheme will fill the new role, which is to be focused global sustainability and impact initiatives. Iheme will also lead Intrepid’s not-for-profit Intrepid Foundation.
“I'm delighted to welcome Payton to our team, after an extensive, global search process,” Intrepid Travel CEO, James Thornton, said in a statement.
“Payton is a dynamic, values-driven business leader who has a diverse background of experiences across the public and private sectors and will bring a new perspective at this crucial time in our history as we seek to double down on the U.S. market as part of our 2030 strategy,” Thornton added.
In addition to working for former President Obama, Iheme past experience includes working as a senior policy and advocacy expert at Facebook and, most recently Bumble, where she was vice president and head of public policy.
Iheme, who is described as passionate about advocating for a better, safer and fairer world, will be responsible for developing and delivering Intrepid’s global impact strategy. Her appointment is part of an effort by Intrepid to strengthen its commitment to impact as part of the company’s 2030 strategy.
“Intrepid’s mission is to create positive change through the joy of travel, and I believe we can truly bring communities together and help build a stronger and more equitable world,” Iheme said in a statement. “I’m honored to join Intrepid at this crucial moment when we’re seeing too many companies divesting from ESG, DEI, and climate and conservation programming, as well as leaders shying away from advocating for the critical issues impacting so many communities around the world.”
A certified B Corp, Intrepid has long been an industry trailblazer for responsible travel. That effort focuses on small group traveling, visiting local communities, and becoming carbon neutral in 2010.
Intrepid was also the first global tour operator with verified science-based carbon reduction emission targets in 2020 and was among the first travel companies to appoint a dedicated responsible travel role in 1999.
In June, Intrepid announced changes to its North American leadership team that are part of the company's effort to continue its growth in this key market.
The personnel
changes will see current Chief Customer Officer Leigh Barnes transition
to the role of President of the Americas while Canadian travel industry
veteran Christian Wolters has been appointed to a newly created
position of President of Canada.
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