Planning ahead: Goway to welcome new COO

With an eye toward his eventual retirement, Goway Founder and President Bruce Hodge has appointed John Feenaghty to the newly created position of Chief Operating Officer, commencing early in 2018.

As COO, Feenaghty will focus on “the development of a long-term plan which includes the gradual exit (retirement) of Hodge,” and will be “tasked with growth in all areas of the company (spear-headed by an anticipated surge in UK-Europe), and the ultimate development of a North American program,” read a statement from Goway. The company also plans to open wholesale offices in Australia and the UK.

“During my time in the USA, I was well aware of Goway, and am looking forward to moving back to North America to assume this role for such a well-respected company,” commented Feenaghty.

Feenaghty will also oversee the rise of Adam and Bronwyn Hodge, as they assume senior leadership roles in the business.

“All I see are opportunities,” said Hodge. “I only wish I was 10 years younger.”

Feenaghty brings more than 25 years’ experience across a variety of travel industry fields. His most recent tenure has been with the Flight Centre Travel Group in Australia where he held a number of senior roles over his 14 years with the company. Starting out in the RAAF as a flight steward nearly 30 years ago, Feenaghty moved from hospitality to travel, with a career at the Queensland Government Travel Centre in Brisbane. A few years followed with Thomas Cook retail, Sunlover Holidays, and a short stint in the USA with an Australian travel specialist. In 2003, he took over the marketing division of Flight Centre’s emerging wholesale brand Infinity Holidays for several years. This evolved into many key roles across the company, including GM of Quickbeds.com, SVP Product & Marketing at U.S.-based Liberty Travel and GM of product & marketing with the Infinity Group.

Founded in Toronto in 1970, Goway will celebrate its 50th anniversary in 2020. Click here to read PAX’s extensive interview with Bruce Hodge from 2016, covering the history and growth of the family business.