Merlin Entertainments announces that Alistair Windybank, Chief Financial Officer, has informed the Board that he intends to retire.
Alistair will remain in place for at least his 12-month notice period and will continue to support the CEO, the wider Merlin Executive team, and the Board, as they identify the most suitable successor and ensure an orderly and smooth handover.
Alistair joined Merlin in 2008 and has held various senior finance roles, including Head of Corporate Finance, Group Investor Relations Director, Senior Finance Director, and Deputy CFO.
He was appointed acting CFO in July 2020 and formally appointed CFO in November 2020, including responsibility for Merlin Group IT and Procurement. Prior to Merlin, Alistair qualified as a Chartered Accountant at Deloitte, where he specialised in Audit & Assurance.
Scott O’Neil, CEO of Merlin Entertainments, commented: “I would like to thank Alistair for his outstanding contribution over the last 15 years. Even before he was CFO, he was a key member of the team, and has played an important part in Merlin’s international growth and success. Notably, he played a key role in taking the company public back in 2013 and more recently in helping steer Merlin successfully through the pandemic. We will all miss Alistair enormously and are reassured that we have many months with his guidance and support, while his successor is found, and an orderly handover takes place.”
Alistair Windybank, CFO of Merlin Entertainments, added: “I feel privileged to have had the opportunity to be a part of the Merlin journey over the last 15 years. Merlin is an incredible business and I’m immensely proud of what we have achieved. With a world-class portfolio of attraction brands, an exciting investment pipeline and an amazing team, the business is well positioned to continue its growth into the future.”
