Luxury host agency Travel Edge Network has announced the appointment of Kevin O'Brien to the role of senior vice president.
O'Brien worked at Weight Watchers from 2017 to 2023, holding several roles including president and GM of WW Canada. In 2022, he assumed leadership of all markets outside of North America as head of international markets, and then became head of commercial growth and customer operations.
Travel Edge Network recruitment campaign. (Photo courtesy of Travel Edge)
Prior to joining Weight Watchers, Mr. O'Brien held a variety of senior roles at AIMIA, including running the Aeroplan business unit, leading strategic development and key partner management, negotiations and ancillary revenue growth.
His extensive experience includes serving as co-founder and general partner at The Group Investments, a Toronto-based Series A technology fund, and he spent 16 years in consulting as a principal at Mercer Management Consulting and a partner at Secor Consulting.
This experience formed the foundation of O'Brien's belief that better results can be achieved by understanding customers and markets better than anyone else.
(Photo: Travel Edge)
In his new role with the Travel Edge network, O'Brien will lead the premium host agency, which is comprised of more than 1,800 independent contractors (ICs) and associated ICs, as well as 92 affiliated agents.
To better understand advisors' priorities and needs, O'Brien will embark on a listening tour, an initiative launched earlier this year by Travel Edge president Andrew Pilkington, that will see him travel across the U.S. and Canada to meet with advisors and gather their feedback.
“As a result of our listening efforts, we have already implemented changes based on advisor feedback,” Pilkington said, “which include increasing in-person events and opportunities for advisors to connect with each other, as well as launching local community initiatives that feature marketing elements, engagement and development opportunities in several regional offices across the U.S. and Canada.”
“I am excited to join Travel Edge Network and take on this new role,” said O'Brien, “which combines my passion for travel with my commitment to elevating our customers' journeys and experiences. I look forward to working closely with our advisors to understand their needs and the needs of their customers and contributing to the continued success of the network.”
