Country Navigator Announces Strategic Leadership Restructure to Accelerate Innovation and Global Growth

Country Navigator's co-founders Chris Crosby and Hans van der Linden transition to new Strategic Board; Bryony Harrower appointed CEO; Lauren Devlin promoted to CMO as the business enters its next chapter of technology-led transformation.

TMA World and Country Navigator, the global leaders in intercultural learning, cross-cultural intelligence and inclusive leadership development, today announced a series of strategic leadership changes designed to position the business for its next phase of growth. Building on a distinguished 35-year heritage of helping organizations and their people thrive across borders, cultures and markets, the changes signal a confident, forward-looking evolution that embraces the accelerating role of technology, AI and digital learning in the modern workplace.

A New Strategic Board to Shape the Future

Co-founders Chris Crosby and Hans van der Linden, who established TMA World in 1991, will step into newly created roles on a dedicated Strategic Board. In this capacity they will focus on long-term strategy, industry thought leadership and stakeholder relationships, drawing on decades of pioneering experience in the intercultural and global learning space. Their continued involvement ensures the business retains the vision, values and intellectual capital on which its reputation has been built, while freeing operational leadership to move with the speed and agility that today’s market demands.

Bryony Harrower Appointed Chief Executive Officer

Effective immediately, Bryony Harrower assumes the role of Chief Executive Officer, taking full responsibility, with the board, for the commercial strategy, day-to-day operations and continued growth of both TMA World and Country Navigator. Bryony joined the business in a senior product development role and has been instrumental in forging deeper client partnerships and championing the integration of technology across the company’s product and service portfolio. Her appointment as CEO is a natural progression that reflects her significant contribution to date and the confidence the founders place in her ability to lead the business through its next chapter.

Lauren Devlin Promoted to Chief Marketing Officer

Alongside the CEO appointment, Lauren Devlin has been promoted to the role of Chief Marketing Officer. Lauren has played a pivotal role in elevating the brand presence of both TMA World and Country Navigator, sharpening the company’s go-to-market strategy and deepening engagement with global clients and partners. Her promotion to CMO recognizes her strategic impact and ensures that marketing and brand leadership sit at the heart of the business’s growth agenda.

Founder Commentary

Commenting on the changes, Co-founder and CEO Chris Crosby said:
“These changes are very much about preparing TMA World and Country Navigator for the future. Over the past 35 years, Hans and I have built this business on a deep commitment to helping organizations work effectively across cultures. That mission hasn’t changed – but the world around us has. Technology adoption is accelerating at an extraordinary pace, and the needs of our global clients are evolving in an increasingly interconnected, digital and AI-driven workplace.

Bryony has brought real leadership and innovation to this business. She understands how technology will continue to reshape the world of learning and education, and she has a clear vision for how we can harness that to deliver even greater value to our clients. Stepping into the CEO role is a well-deserved recognition of everything she has achieved, and Hans and I have every confidence in her ability to take TMA World and Country Navigator to new heights.
I’d also like to mention Lauren Devlin stepping up to CMO. Lauren has a real talent for connecting cultural intelligence to the problems our clients are actively trying to solve – how to grow internationally, how to get teams working across borders, and how to make global operations actually work. That skillset has made a real difference to how clients see us and want to work with us.

For Hans and me, this is not a step back – it’s a step forward. By focusing our energy on strategy and thought leadership through the new Strategic Board, we can ensure the business continues to lead the thinking in our industry while Bryony and the wider leadership team drive the day-to-day execution and innovation that our clients expect.”

An Exciting New Phase

The restructure reflects the natural evolution of a business that has continually adapted and innovated since its founding in 1991. From early work in cross-cultural consulting to the development of the award-winning Country Navigator digital platform, TMA World has consistently anticipated the changing needs of organizations operating in an interconnected world. Today’s announcement marks the beginning of a dynamic new chapter in which strategic vision and operational execution are aligned more closely than ever, positioning the business to capitalize on the opportunities presented by AI, digital transformation and the future of global work.