Travel Leaders Group recently announced that J.D. O’Hara has been named president of the company as it embarks on further strategic growth initiatives for its family of travel brands.
In the newly created role, O’Hara will oversee and work closely with the various Travel Leaders Group brand presidents to address specific needs of each distinct division, as well as continue to enhance the travel advisor and member agency value proposition. O’Hara’s appointment is effective immediately, and he will report to Travel Leaders Group CEO Ninan Chacko, CTC. O’Hara joins Travel Leaders Group from Certares Management, LLC, where he served as senior partner.
“J.D.’s significant travel industry experience, intimate knowledge of our brands, and strategic thinking will serve us well as we move into the next chapter of our company’s development,” said Chacko. “He brings to the task not only wide business experience, but a passionate commitment to the success of our travel advisors and member agencies.”
Although O’Hara enters his new role from a different company, he is no stranger to Travel Leaders Group. He was part of the original management buyout of Carlson Leisure Group from Carlson Companies in January 2008 and has served a key role in Travel Leaders Group’s ongoing growth since the company’s inception. In his various operating roles within Travel Leaders Group and as a member of the company’s Board of Directors while at Certares, O’Hara has had direct oversight of Travel Leaders Group’s vast investment activity, including acquisitions of Tzell Travel Group, Nexion Travel Group, Vacation.com, Protravel International, Andrew Harper Travel, CruCon Cruise Outlet, as well as Travel Leaders Group’s recent merger with Altour. As the company sought to expand beyond its core U.S. footprint, O’Hara led Travel Leaders Group’s international growth with the acquisitions of Mexico-based Corporate Travel Services, and UK-based agencies, Colletts Travel and Barrhead Travel.
“I am thrilled to be rejoining Travel Leaders Group at this exciting time and to have the opportunity to help accelerate the momentum that the company has enjoyed over the years. I look forward to bringing my experience to help build an even stronger and brighter future for the thousands of employees and travel advisor constituents that make us the industry leader that we are,” said O’Hara in press materials.
For more information, visit travelleadersgroup.com. Travel Leaders Group has also recently teamed up with American Express to bring travel advisors additional benefits and client leads; get the details here.
