Stephan Baars

Global Chief Executive Officer

At the foundation of any organization’s success, you’ll find a strong team, united by passion and striving toward a common goal.

Stephan oversees all of BCD Travel’s commercial, financial and operational functions. He sets the company’s strategic direction to fulfill our mission of helping people and companies travel smart and achieve more. And he leads 13,000 creative, committed and experienced people in pursuit of a shared vision to be the world’s most trusted, innovative and sustainable travel management company.

A native of Hanover, Germany, Stephan has three decades of executive leadership experience in the telecommunications, oil and gas production, business travel and investment sectors. His track record in steering companies through times of change and growth speaks to his skill in aligning commercial, operational, technology and central service teams toward common goals. He believes that client focus lies at the heart of successful enterprise. And that investment in people and innovation, long-standing relationships with business partners, and a clear-eyed perspective on our industry are equally as vital. 

A long-time veteran of the company, Stephan returned to BCD in 2023 from his position as CEO of BORON, the private investment company of BCD’s founder, John Fentener van Vlissingen. Previously, Stephan spent 14 years as BCD Travel’s Global Chief Financial Officer and Managing Director (and subsequently Chairman of the Supervisory Board) for Germany, BCD’s largest European market. 

Stephan has a passion for the charitable foundations established by the John Fentener van Vlissingen family, particularly the John & Marine van Vlissingen Foundation, which helps children in need across the world through a wide range of small, local, long-term projects and is strongly supported by BCD Travel employees. In his free time, he enjoys spending time with family and friends around the world.