Former NBA Executive O'Neil New CEO of Merlin Entertainments

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The Philadelphia 76ers and New Jersey Devils' parent company's previous CEO has agreed to accept the same role with Merlin Entertainments, a company based in London. Scott O'Neil will be in charge of managing Merlin Entertainments' business operations and international expansion across its 147 attractions in 24 countries. O'Neil's appointment became effective on November 15 when departing CEO Nick Varney decided to retire after 23 years in the position.

Six resort theme parks, including Alton Towers, Heide Park, and Gardaland, as well as Sea Life aquariums, Madame Tussauds, Peppa Pig World of Play, the Lastminute.com London Eye, and the Sydney Tower Eye, are just a few of Merlin's attractions. Three Legoland Resorts are now being built in China, and Merlin has other openings planned for the US and Asia. The Grammy Museum at the Prudential Center and the construction of a cutting-edge Sixers complex, both in New Jersey, were two projects under the HBSE umbrella that the 52-year-old O'Neil helped supervise before leaving the company in June 2021.

O'Neil, a Villanova graduate, also oversaw Madison Square Garden Sports in the past. He was in charge of the Knicks, New York Rangers, and New York Liberty's business affairs. “My experience in the NBA, NFL, and NHL in building teams, my passion for the guest experience, cultivating, reviving and building brands, and driving growth in a business that is similar and consumer-focused seemed like a natural next step,” O’Neil said. Merlin has emerged as the undeniably second-largest visitor attraction operator on the planet based on attendance while being far from a household name. The No. 1 position is comfortably held by Disney. “Scott has significant experience in the entertainment industry, a proven track record of delivering business transformation, and the vision and ambition to lead Merlin through the next exciting stages of its global development,” said Roland Hernandez, chair of Merlin Entertainments. “The board has every confidence in him, and we look forward to working closely together over the coming years.”