The Independent Traveler, Inc. – publisher of three leading online travel sites, and part of the TripAdvisor Media Group – announces the appointment of Mike Ewing as general manager. Ewing will oversee the online publisher’s three brands – Cruise Critic, Family Vacation Critic and IndependentTraveler.com.

“We’re thrilled that Mike has joined the Independent Traveler team, heading up the company’s business strategies and day-to-day operations,” said David Krauter, President, SmarterTravel and The Independent Traveler, Inc. “Mike’s extensive background across a variety of business entities – from startup to publicly traded, online and offline – will help us capture the tremendous opportunities ahead for the company.”

Ewing will be responsible for the continued growth of the publisher’s three sites, including Cruise Critic – the world’s largest online cruise resource. Celebrating its 20th anniversary in 2015, Cruise Critic stands as a leader in the cruise industry.  Additionally, Ewing will lead efforts to continue growth for Family Vacation Critic and IndependentTraveler.com.

“Coming into a well-established, highly-esteemed company is an exciting opportunity," explains Ewing. “The Independent Traveler has solidified itself as a clear leader. I’m pleased to be joining the existing team to support the company’s continued success. There is a huge opportunity to take these brands to the next level and ultimately to help travelers plan the perfect vacation.”

Prior to joining The Independent Traveler, Inc., Ewing held management roles at LogMeIn, Vistaprint, and Monster.com. Ewing’s professional career includes time in the US as well as time abroad with responsibility for large geographic regions. An avid traveler, Ewing has been around the world while managing global teams focused on consumer, media and B2B businesses. Ewing is a regular speaker and contributor on topics as wide-ranging as sales and marketing, building high-performance teams and venture funding.