The Poole-based company behind Alton Towers and Legoland has appointed an interim chief executive. Fiona Eastwood has taken over from Scott O’Neil, who is leaving Merlin Entertainments at the end of the year to take on another role.
Ms Eastwood, who was previously chief operating officer, will oversee the business while the chair and board identify a successor, the firm said. The appointment comes ahead of the opening of Legoland Shanghai – the first in China – and a Peppa Pig Theme Park in Dallas, Texas.
“Our business is led by an extraordinarily talented, innovative and inspiring management team, and I look forward to working closely with them to execute our strategy and to continue to deliver exceptional experiences to our guests,” said Ms Eastwood.
During his time at the helm, Mr O’Neil oversaw several milestone achievements for the business, including the recent announcement that Merlin is planning to bring Minecraft to life in the real world by creating attractions in the UK and US.
“It has been an honour to lead Merlin Entertainments as it lays the foundations for its next phase of growth,” he said. “I look forward to working with Fiona as interim chief executive to ensure a smooth transition. She is an outstanding leader who will take the business forward with drive, creativity and ambition.”
Roland Hernandez, chair of Merlin Entertainments, said Ms Eastwood’s appointment reflected the “strength of leadership talent” at Merlin. He said: “Fiona has nearly a decade of experience at Merlin Entertainments, and has focused on delivering world-class attractions with the best IP in the world, and exceptional guest and team experiences. She has built a reputation throughout the live attractions and theme parks industry as a world-class leader.”
He added: “Scott has led Merlin Entertainments with passion and dedication, and I would like to thank him for his service to this company. We wish him well in all his future endeavours.”