Chief Executive Officer (Travel Agency)

About the role

Keller Executive Search is partnering with a leading travel agency organization to identify an exceptional Chief Executive Officer to lead the business into its next phase of growth. This is a rare opportunity for a proven senior leader to shape strategy, drive performance, and build enduring value across a dynamic and evolving market. Reporting to the Board of Directors, the CEO will hold full accountability for the organization's vision, financial results, operational execution, and culture. The successful candidate will combine strong commercial acumen with authentic, people-centered leadership, translating a compelling long-term strategy into measurable outcomes while cultivating high-performing teams. This is a fully remote role based anywhere within the United States, offering significant autonomy, a competitive compensation package, and the chance to make a lasting impact at the highest level of an ambitious business.

Responsibilities

• Define, communicate, and execute the organization's long-term vision and strategic direction in partnership with the Board
• Own overall financial performance, including revenue growth, profitability, and disciplined capital allocation
• Lead, develop, and inspire the executive team, fostering accountability and a high-performance culture
• Drive operational excellence and scalable processes across all functions of the business
• Serve as the primary point of accountability to the Board of Directors and key stakeholders
• Identify and pursue growth opportunities, including new markets, partnerships, and strategic initiatives
• Represent the organization externally with clients, partners, investors, and the broader market
• Ensure sound governance, risk management, and compliance across the enterprise

Requirements

Essential

• Extensive senior leadership experience in the travel industry, including prior service as a CEO, President, or comparable executive with full profit-and-loss ownership
• Demonstrated track record of driving revenue growth and profitability at scale
• Proven ability to set strategy and translate it into measurable operational results
• Strong financial literacy, including budgeting, forecasting, and capital allocation
• Experience reporting to and partnering effectively with a Board of Directors
• Excellent communication, negotiation, and stakeholder-management skills
• Ability to lead effectively in a fully remote, distributed environment

Preferred

• Experience scaling an organization through significant growth or transformation
• Background leading distributed or fully remote teams across multiple functions
• Advanced degree such as an MBA or equivalent executive education
• Exposure to mergers, acquisitions, or strategic partnerships

Ideal Candidate Profile

You are a visionary yet pragmatic executive who combines strategic foresight with disciplined execution. You lead with integrity, build trust quickly, and empower teams to deliver ambitious results. Comfortable with accountability to a Board and confident representing an organization externally, you thrive in fast-moving environments and are energized by the opportunity to shape a company's future.

Benefits

• Base salary of up to approximately $390,000 annually, depending on experience
• Additional variable incentive of approximately $400,000 to $500,000 projected, delivered through short-term and long-term incentives tied to financial performance, targets, and strategic milestones
• Generous annual bonus structure tied to financial