Carrier’s Julie Barker to retire after 23 years with the company

Carrier has promoted Deborah Matthews to head of reservations and operations following the departure of Julie Barker, who has worked for the operator for 23 years.

Barker began her travel career at Thomas Cook Business Travel in 1981, holding roles from shop manager to regional trainer and auditor over 21 years.

She joined Carrier in 2002 to establish the admin and operations team, later managing the Europe and North Africa reservations team. In 2009, following Carrier’s acquisition by Kuoni Group, Barker was promoted to head of reservations and operations – a role she has held for nearly 16 years.

Barker said: “As age and life take hold, as much I will miss Carrier, it’s time to put my beautiful family and health first.”

She added: “I will be leaving the team in capable hands as I am delighted to pass the baton to my colleague and friend, Debs Matthews. I have full confidence in Debs’ ability to elevate our luxury travel service to unparalleled heights.”

Matthews has 28 years of experience in the travel industry and has worked for Carrier for eight years, previously serving as senior reservations and service manager.

Matthews said her promotion to head of reservations and operations felt like a “natural progression”.

She added: “I’m truly excited about the direction we’re heading and the opportunities that lie ahead. I remain committed to building on our success and look forward to working closely with our agent partners to strengthen our relationships and make a lasting impression.” 

Carrier’s managing director, Natasha Towey, said: “Julie has been a cornerstone of Carrier, profoundly influencing and shaping our business into the successful entity it is today. Her unwavering pursuit of excellence has embedded a culture of high standards and dedication within the company, and it is this legacy that she leaves behind.”

She added: “As we look to the future, it is not about merely replacing Julie’s role but finding someone who can lead this part of our business into the next chapter with the same commitment and passion. Debs has been Julie’s right-hand woman for the last eight years and we’ve been coaching her position for some time. She brings a wealth of experience to our senior team and our agent partners already have such strong relationships directly with Debs – she is absolutely the right person for the job.”