Flight Centre Travel Group's Dean Smith on Jan. 1 will step down from his role as Americas president, the company announced. He plans to retire on June 30, 2020, the end of the travel management company's financial year.
Current head of Flight Centre's Americas corporate brands Charlene Leiss will succeed Smith as president, assuming responsibilities effective Jan. 1, 2020. Leiss brings more than 20 years of travel industry experience, initially with Garber Travel before it was acquired by Flight Centre in 2010. Earlier this year, she was recognized as one of GBTA's WINiT Top 40 Women in Travel.
John Beauvais, current president of Flight Centre's Canadian business, will take over for Leiss as president of Americas corporate brands for the TMC.
Smith, who has been with Flight Centre for 23 years and was named president in 2009, will spend the final six months of his tenure in a global leisure travel-related role, helping to spearhead various leisure initiatives currently underway for the TMC.