accesso Technology Group plc today announced that Paul Noland, current president and CEO of the International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions (IAAPA), will succeed Steve Brown as accesso chief executive officer, effective April 9, 2018. Brown will step down from the accesso board of directors at that time and will continue to serve as an advisor to both Noland and the accesso board throughout 2018 to ensure a seamless transition.
Noland has built an impressive resume as a leader in the international attractions and entertainment industries. He served for 16 years in senior executive roles with Walt Disney Parks and Resorts where he championed major growth initiatives across the company’s domestic theme parks and resorts and oversaw the financial planning, revenue management and pricing functions at Walt Disney World Resort. Prior to Disney, he spent more than a dozen years in leadership roles with Marriott International where he focused on optimizing revenue across the company’s then 900 hotels. Noland will step down from his existing role at IAAPA to focus on his new role at accesso.
Since 2013, Noland has served as IAAPA president, helping the organization continue its growth as the largest international trade association for amusement facilities and attractions worldwide. IAAPA represents more than 5,400 facility, supplier and individual members from more than 90 countries.
“We thank Steve for the outstanding contribution he has made to Accesso’s prosperity during his tenure,” said Tom Burnet, chairman of accesso. “His leadership, vision and drive have been fundamental to the creation of today’s global and integrated Accesso and I have enjoyed working with him enormously. His decision to stay on as an advisor to Paul and the Board will ensure a smooth transition and we wish him all the best in his next endeavors.
“We believe that Paul’s unmatched track record, industry knowledge, relationships and passion for excellence make him exactly the right person to lead the next phase of our growth,” Burnet added. “I look forward to working closely with him as we continue to execute on our ambitious plans.”
“I’m thrilled to be joining Accesso at such an exciting time in its development,” said Noland. “The Accesso team has built a fantastic business and I look forward to bringing my experience to bear in driving it forward. My background across the industry gives me a full sense of the opportunity Accesso has before it, and with the combination of outstanding technology and fantastic people already in place, I’m full of excitement about the future.”
“I am excited to see the company that I have helped to build continue forward under the leadership of a person I have known, trusted and worked with for more than 20 years,” said Brown. “I can think of no one better suited to lead Accesso to a position of international prominence than Paul Noland.”
Noland joins accesso on the heels of its acquisitions of Ingresso and The Experience EngineTM (TE2) in 2017, and will lead a global technology solutions company with more than 500 employees, supporting clients in more than 30 countries and more than 1,000 venues.
Noland earned a Master of Business Administration from the College of William and Mary in Williamsburg, Virginia, and a Bachelor of Science in Journalism and Speech Communication from Radford University in Radford, Virginia. He will be based in accesso’s office in Lake Mary, Fla.
