Lesley Taylor is UK and Ireland Managing Director of the Globus family of brands, which comprises touring brands Cosmos Tours and Globus Journeys, alongside Avalon Waterways, offering river cruises across Europe and beyond.
Since joining the business in June 1994, Lesley has held a wide range of roles, building an extensive track record in leadership, global change management, and international integration projects, with customer experience at the heart of her approach.
As Managing Director, Lesley oversees the group’s strategic direction, commercial performance and customer proposition across the UK and Ireland. She has also played a pivotal role in establishing and growing Avalon Waterways and Cosmos Tours in Ireland following their launch in the market in 2024.
Lesley draws on customer insight to shape business strategy, improve service and deliver sustainable growth. People are central to her leadership ethos; from the colleagues she works alongside to the customers who travel with the brands.
A passionate advocate for service excellence, Lesley successfully led Cosmos Holidays and Avalon Waterways to achieve the Institute of Customer Service’s ServiceMark accreditation with Distinction, a first for the travel industry.
Lesley regularly contributes to industry panels, leadership discussions, and media commentary, sharing her perspective on women in business, customer experience, the evolving travel landscape, and the future of AI.
Alongside her executive responsibilities with Globus family of brands Lesley serves as a Non-Executive Director of the Institute of Customer Service, supporting its mission to raise service standards and organisational performance for companies across the United Kingdom.
