Entrepreneur PY Gerbeau has joined ambitious theme park project The London Resort as its new chief executive.
Gerbeau’s previous roles include co-founder and chief executive of leisure investment vehicle X-Leisure.
He left the fund in 2013 after it was sold to Landsec, after which he became chief restructuring officer of Tucker’s Point resort in Bermuda and non-executive chairman of La Manga Club Resort in Spain.
Gerbeau has also been credited with turning around the fortunes of both Euro Disney and the Millennium Dome (now the O2 Arena).
The London Resort is expected to open in 2024, and has again forged a partnership with Paramount Pictures, alongside existing partners BBC Studios and ITV Studios.
Paramount had previously left the project, throwing its future in doubt before ITV signed up earlier this year.
It will be located in Kent and is touted as the UK’s largest theme park and entertainment destination, covering 535 acres.
Gerbeau, who will oversee London Resort Company Holdings, the project’s development company, said: “I am delighted to join The London Resort and to play my part in helping to create a world-class destination to rival all others.
“Central to that strategy is to partner with the best brands from across TV, film, music and entertainment. Having Paramount on board is a major step towards realising that ambition.”
Construction on the theme park is expected to begin in 2021. London Resort Company Holdings is owned by the Kuwaiti European Holding Company Group, which acquired it in August 2013.
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