Merlin Entertainments announced the promotion of their Creative Director, Paul Moreton, to Chief Development Officer starting January 1, 2023. The promotion follows the announcement in April this year that current Chief Development Officer, Mark ‘Fish’ Fisher will retire by the end of this year, after 27 years at the company.
Moreton has had a distinguished career with Merlin starting at Alton Towers in 1991 before heading up Marketing for Madame Tussauds and The London Eye. He then took on an 8-year stint in television, working in senior roles at UKTV, before returning to Merlin in 2012, in his current role as Group Creative Director.
Moreton takes over a highly talented group of senior colleagues and their teams whose collective mission is to deliver competitive advantage for Merlin by creating, producing and delivering compelling, innovative attractions and experiences.
Moreton said: “I am delighted to have the opportunity to lead Merlin Magic Making (MMM) where our focus is on dreaming big ideas and bringing those dreams to life. MMM is an incredible group of uniquely talented creative, production, project delivery, IP, finance, M&A and HR experts, and I can’t wait to build on the outstanding legacy established by Fish.
“The opportunity to work with an inspiring group of the most talented and creative people in the world is what makes Merlin Entertainments such a special and unique place. As brands continue to explore ways of bringing their IP to life through live events, attractions and experiences, our body of work with LEGO, Sony Entertainment Pictures and Hasbro is an inspiring platform from which to build and grow. As a proud member of the LBGTQ+ community, I’m excited to continue to be a role model and champion of diversity and inclusion — both in Merlin and the wider industry. I know I’m part of a Merlin team that truly values people, talent, ideas, creativity and teamwork.”
Scott O’Neil, Chief Executive Officer at Merlin, said: “Merlin Magic Making is a world class group of creators and innovators who wake up every day thinking about how to bring more fun to the world. Paul is a leader who understands the importance of creating and fostering an environment which drives diversity of thought, through seeking out the very best creative talent, spotting new technology and innovation and providing the space to dream big and then collaborate to bring those dreams to life. As Merlin continues our unmatched global growth trajectory, Paul’s team will marry the technology of tomorrow with the most coveted brands on the planet to bring more memorable moments to the world.”
