Jo Boydell

Chief Executive Officer

Jo joined Travelodge in March 2013 as Chief Financial Officer, a role in which she was responsible for overseeing all of the Company's finance functions, as well as Risk, Legal and Procurement. In May 2022, Jo was promoted to Chief Executive. She has broad based experience as a financial professional in private and public companies, bringing a wealth of expertise to Travelodge. Prior to joining the company, Jo was Finance Director at Mothercare and has held senior positions with Hilton Group plc, Ladbrokes plc, EMI Group and Snap Equity Ltd, the parent company of Jessops.

Jo joined DFS Furniture plc in December 2018 as an Independent Non-Executive Director and became Chair of their Audit Committee on 1 April 2019.

Jo is a Chartered Accountant and holds an Honours Degree in Physics from Oxford University.

Jo is married with one child.

Aidan Connolly

Chief Financial Officer

Aidan joined Travelodge in April 2023 as Chief Financial Officer and is responsible for managing all of the Company’s finance functions, as well as Risk and Procurement.

Aidan has a long career as a board executive in private and public companies and has worked in many countries. He brings extensive experience in managing businesses facing change.

Prior to joining the company, Aidan was Chief Financial Officer and/or Chief Executive at Alter Domus in Luxembourg, Wilko, Worldpay, Sodexo UK and Ireland, MyTravel Group and Walker Greenbank. In his early career he was an entrepreneur running his own companies in Europe and the USA.

Aidan trained as a Chartered Accountant and tax specialist with Price Waterhouse and Coopers & Lybrand and has a law degree. He is married with two grown up children.

Claire Good

Chief Operating Officer

Claire joined Travelodge in 2016 as Central Operations Director leading the transformation plan for hotel operations and delivery of the corporate productivity targets, and contributed significantly to the company’s COVID response. Claire was promoted to Chief Operating Officer in January 2021.

Prior to joining Travelodge, Claire has 20 years’ experience of executing customer and commercial transformation programmes including at HAL the opening of Heathrow’s new Terminal 2, and as Customer Experience Director for the mobile operator Everything Everywhere.

Claire holds a business degree from the University of Bradford, School of Management.

Claire is married with two children.

Karen Broughton

Chief Sales & Marketing Officer

Karen joined Travelodge in 2014, bringing a wealth of experience building brands, driving revenue growth through digital, sales and marketing strategies and transforming the customer experience. Karen has spent most of her career working within the leisure and hospitality sector across both the UK and international markets.

Before joining Travelodge Karen was a Board Director at the Money Advice Service (MAS). She began her career with British Airways where she held a range of senior positions responsible for the management of the British Airways brand, Service strategy and Club World.

Following British Airways Karen became Brand Director for the British Airports Authority (BAA) then Marketing Director at World Duty Free. On successful sale of the business she was part of the senior team responsible for the integration of the UK business with the global airport retailer Aldeasa, after which she became Global Communications Director.

Tom Edwards

Chief Revenue Officer

Tom joined Travelodge in 2013. Before joining Travelodge, Tom spent 10 years at regional airline Flybe, most recently as Revenue and Network Planning Director. This period saw the company’s UK turnover double, European expansion, a return to profitability and a successful IPO. Tom’s early career was spent in low cost airline revenue management firstly at Easyjet, which was then a start-up and then at Go-Fly, which grew to profitability and was successfully sold.

Tom holds a first class degree in Mathematics for Management from Brighton University, which included working as an Operational Researcher at British Airways.

Tom is a Chartered Mathematician and a Fellow of the Institute of Mathematics and its Applications.

Married with two children, he holds joint UK and Maltese citizenship.

Steve Bennett

Chief Property & Development Officer

Steve joined Travelodge in February 2020, before joining Travelodge Steve spent 3 years as Director of Property with Marks & Spencer plc; overseeing the group’s new store acquisition programme, refit investments, asset management and an international strategic review.

Prior to his time at Marks & Spencer, Steve held property director roles with Travis Perkins plc and Dixons Carphone plc, following earlier roles in new store development with Specsavers and the parent company of Superdrug, AS Watson.

Steve holds a BA in Psychology from the University of Newcastle upon Tyne, and a Masters Degree in Business from Aston University.

Steve is married with two children.

Hannah Thomson

Chief People Officer

Hannah joined Travelodge in June 2016. She began her career with the John Lewis Partnership businesses, John Lewis and Waitrose, where she held a range of roles in Operations and Human Resources, including time as Head of the group’s HR transformation programme and Head of HR for the group functions.

Following her time with John Lewis, Hannah held senior HR roles with the car rental operator Avis / Budget, the self-storage operator Safestore plc and the Wyevale Garden Centre group.

Hannah holds a BA with 1st class honours and a Masters degree from the University of London.

Hannah is married and has a son.

James Hellewell

Chief Technology Officer

James joined Travelodge in June 2018. Before joining Travelodge James held a number of senior technology positions within UK retail including 4 years as Chief Information Officer for Jack Wills.

James’ prior experience includes Senior Technology and Programme Management roles with Selfridges, the Home Retail Group, Carphone Warehouse and BUPA Australia, following an early career with the management consulting business of Deloitte.

James holds a BSc with 1st class honours.

Originally from New Zealand, James has been in the UK for 16 years and is married with 2 sons.