Attractions heavyweight Tom Mehrmann has been appointed to the Board of Advisors for themed entertainment specialists The Producers Group (TPG).

Mehrmann, who has held senior roles across the industry – most recently as CEO of Hong Kong’s Ocean Park – joins the Board of Advisors to offer his four decades worth of experience on the development of visitor attractions.

Mehrmann replaces Disney legend Don Iwerks, who is this year is retiring from the TPG Board of Advisors after serving in that capacity since the company’s founding. Mehrmann joins Bob Gurr, Thomas McCann, Wendy Heimann-Nunes and David Snyder on the board.

“I find TPG uniquely qualified to create and produce innovative themed entertainment experiences that meet clients’ needs in today’s global market,” said Mehrmann. “I’m enthusiastic to accept an advisory role in its upcoming endeavours.”

In 2016, Mehrmann founded Themed Advisors – a company providing professional advisory services for themed attraction development and operation.

At Ocean Park, Mehrmann led the attraction’s HK$5.5bn (US$709m, €672m, £568m) master redevelopment plan, during his 11-year stint also increasing attendance from less than three million visitors to more than 7.8 million in 2014/2015.

Prior to that Mehrmann was vice president and general manager of both Warner Bros Movie World Madrid and Six Flags, and spent 21 years competing against Disney as vice president of park operations and entertainment for Knott’s Berry Farm.

“Tom’s wealth of international development experience and success fits seamlessly with TPG’s achievements in the global market,” said Edward Marks, executive producer and co-CEO of TPG. “Tom’s proven talents for park design, production and operation add yet another esteemed asset to our team.”