Merlin Entertainments Group, a leading global visitor attraction operator, announced that Gerry Murphy has been appointed as a non-executive director of the company.
Gerry is currently a Senior Managing Director in Blackstone’s Corporate Private Equity group and Chairman of The Blackstone Group International Partners LLP. Blackstone is a 34% per cent shareholder in Merlin.
Before joining Blackstone, Gerry spent five years as Chief Executive of Kingfisher, the leading retailer. Prior to this he was CEO of Carlton Communications, Exel and Greencore Group. Other current roles include serving as a director of United Biscuits, Kloeckner Pentaplast and Michaels Stores. He is also a non-executive director of British American Tobacco.
Sir John Sunderland, Chairman of Merlin, said: “I am delighted to welcome Gerry to our Board. His deep experience of international consumer-facing businesses will be of enormous benefit as we continue to accelerate Merlin’s growth trajectory around the world. We are all very much looking forward to working with him.”
Merlin Entertainments now operates over 70 attractions, six hotels/two holiday villages in 17 countries and across four continents. The company aims to deliver memorable and rewarding experiences to its 43.6 million visitors worldwide, through its iconic global and local brands, and the commitment and passion of its managers and more than 15,000 employees. Merlin Entertainments operates the following attractions – SEA LIFE, Madame Tussauds, LEGOLAND, The EDF Energy London Eye, Dungeons, Gardaland, LEGOLAND Discovery Centres, Alton Towers Resort, Warwick Castle, Thorpe Park, Chessington World of Adventures Resort, Heide Park, Earth Explorer, Sydney Aquarium, Sydney Wildlife World, Sydney Tower Observatory and Skywalk, Kelly Tarlton’s Antarctic Encounter Underwater World, Oceanworld Manly and Hamilton Island Koala Gallery.
