Fiona Eastwood has been appointed chief executive of Merlin Entertainments after covering the role on an interim basis since November last year.
Eastwood replaced Scott O’Neil who left the company in 2024 after two years as CEO.
Merlin is currently undergoing a major strategic initiative which has seen restructuring and redundancies this year.
Last week, at also emerged that the majority of the company’s Sea Life attractions are under review for potential sale.
Merlin describes the changes as a “transformational strategy”, which Eastwood will continue to lead.
“She will be responsible for leading the implementation of the business’s transformational strategy, and to ensure it is well placed to grow at scale and deliver a sustainable, thriving future,” the company said on Monday.
Decade of service
Eastwood joined Merlin Entertainments in 2015 as global marketing director for for what was then known as ‘midway’ attractions.
They include the typically city-based attractions which include the Sea Life, Madame Tussauds and Dungeon brands.
““It’s an honour to be chosen to lead Merlin,” Eastwood said today.
“It is a truly world class company, with remarkable global reach and impact. Over the past decade, I have seen first hand what the business is capable of.
“My task, as CEO, is to lead Merlin to new heights, with a focus on performance, creativity, operational excellence and guest experience.”