Keith James, president of Jack Rouse Associates (JRA) has wholly taken over the ownership of the Cincinnati, US-based design and project management company.

James acquired 100 per cent ownership of the company by buying the shares held by co-founders Jack Rouse and Amy Merrell.

Rouse and Merrell, who co-founded JRA alongside James in 1987, will remain with the company in their current capacities as Chair and CEO and chief operating officer, respectively.

James, who will keep his title as president of the company, said the move will not have any affect on operations and it is business as usual.

“This is purely a financial arrangement, not a reorganization,” he said. “The team remains intact and there will be no change in our lines of business, our operating style or, above all, our core philosophy.”

“JRA has been a huge part of my life, so when the opportunity arose for me to extend my ownership of this wonderful company by acquiring Jack and Amy’s shares, I took advantage of it.”

Graduating from the University of Cincinnati College Conservatory of Music in 1974, James first teamed with Jack Rouse to found and develop Kings Productions, the entertainment production and facility design division of the Taft Broadcasting Company’s amusement park group.

Since 1979, James has served in various executive positions with a wide range of entertainment venues in the world, including, Canada’s Wonderland in Toronto, the World’s Fair in Vancouver, Australia’s Wonderland in Sydney and Universal Studios Florida in Orlando.

James joined Jack Rouse Associates in January 1992.