Stephan Baars has returned to BCD Travel as the company's president and CEO after a six-year stint as CEO of BORON, the private investment company of BCD founder John Fentener van Vlissingen.
Baars, who previously served as BCD's global CFO for 11 years, will now split his time between the global headquarters in Utrecht and other regional offices worldwide in his new role.
His immediate plan is to meet with “as many people as possible throughout the organisation, in all regions and at all levels,” in order to learn from them and continue the company’s “commitment to helping our clients drive success in their business.”
With US$16 billion in total sales in 2022 and a workforce of over 13,000 employees, BCD has been recognised as the Most Admired TMC for the sixth consecutive year and received an EcoVadis Platinum rating for sustainability.
Baars attributes the accomplishments of BCD to its “people and their commitment to living the BCD values every day”. He continues: “I could not be more confident that, together, we will continue to build and grow a company and culture that, as our founder is fond of saying, endures for the next, next generation.”
A native of Hanover, Germany, Baars has three decades of executive leadership experience in the telecommunications, oil and gas production, business travel and investment sectors. In 2013, he became chairman of the Supervisory Board for BCD Travel Germany, a role he still holds today.