Merlin Entertainments has confirmed Fiona Eastwood as its CEO – she had been interim CEO following the departure of Scott O’Neil.

Eastwood said: “I have a true love and passion for this business and its people and am excited to lead Merlin into its next phase of growth. I've seen first-hand the wealth of magical experiences our attractions and teams have to offer. It brings me immense pride to visit our attractions and witness how we bring joy, create connections and make memories for families, adults, and children all over the world.”

Prior to her stint as interim CEO, Eastwood was COO of the company, a role she took up in 2019. She has been with Merlin for 10 years in total following a career at BBC Worldwide.

“Merlin is a world class company, with remarkable global reach,” said Eastwood, “My aim is to lead this business to new heights, with a focus on performance, operational excellence, and creating memorable guest experiences. This is an exciting year for Merlin, with our first Peppa Pig theme park opening in Dallas, and Legoland Shanghai coming later in the year and more exciting new projects beyond that. I remain focused on bringing our global attractions together into one united business – a business built for ongoing success and sustainable growth.”

American Scott O’Neil, the former CEO who took over from founding CEO, Nick Varney, on his retirement, held the CEO role from November 2022 to November 2024, when Eastwood took up the reins. He has returned to the sports industry as CEO of LIVgolf.