Alton Towers boss to leave after two years

Hayley Parker

27 November 2024 at 10:06 am·1-min read

Alton Towers is a major attraction in Staffordshire — -Credit: (Image: No credit)

The boss of Alton Towers' parent company is to leave after two years in the job. Scott O'Neil is to step down from his role as chief executive at Merlin Entertainments at the end of the year, according to Sky News.

It has been reported that Fiona Eastwood will be appointed as interim CEO while a permanent successor is identified. Mr O'Neil replaced the Merlin veteran Nick Varney in late 2022, putting him in charge of one of the world's biggest operators of theme parks and visitor attractions.

As well as Alton Towers, Merlin also runs Legoland, Chessington World of Adventures, the London Eye and Thorpe Park. In total, it operates 140 attractions globally, and boasts more than 60 million visitors annually.

The news comes after Merlin announced plans to open a series of Minecraft-themed parks in conjunction with the owners of the globally successful video game. The exact location of the UK experience remains under wraps, but the company intends to invest £85 million into the project, dubbed 'Adventures Made Real'. It will feature a hotel, retail spaces, food and drink outlets, and a ride.

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