Sir Nicholas John Varney (born 1962[1]) is a British businessman who was the chief executive officer of attractions operator Merlin Entertainments. He held this position from 1999 until 2022.
Nick Varney | |
|---|---|
| Born | Nicholas John Varney 1962 (age 61–62) |
| Occupation | Businessman |
Biography
editVarney attended the London School of Economics before becoming a junior marketer in the mid-1980s, later progressing to senior roles. He has over 24 years experience in the visitor attractions industry and was appointed chief executive officer of Merlin Entertainments in 1999. He was later appointed a Director of the company on 20 October 2013.[2]
Nick started his career in marketing, first with Rowntree and then with Reckitt Colman. He went on to hold senior positions within The Tussauds Group, including marketing director of Alton Towers and Head of Group Marketing,[citation needed] before becoming managing director of Vardon Attractions and a main board director of Vardon. In 1999, Nick led the management buyout of Vardon Attractions, majority owned by funds managed or advised by Apax Partners, to form Merlin Entertainments and, following subsequent private equity funded secondary buyouts, initiated the process which led to its acquisition by the Blackstone Group.[3]
In 2011, he stated his belief that free admission to British museums and art galleries were primarily used by "foreign tourists and middle class people who can afford it."[4] In business circles, he is widely seen as an aggressive marketer and was quoted in 2011, as saying "if you can get out of our attractions without buying tickets for the others, well, good luck."[5]
In 2013 Nick Varney was awarded an honorary doctorate by Staffordshire University "In recognition of his considerable business success on a global scale."[6]
On 29 April 2022, it was announced that Varney would be retiring from the company and he left in November 2022.[7]
Varney was knighted in the 2023 Birthday Honours for services to the visitor economy.[8]
References
edit- ^ Chris Blackhurs (10 March 2010) Merlin Entertainments cashes in with a ‘monopoly’ on London attractions – Business – London Evening Standard. London Evening Standard. Retrieved 9 July 2013.
- ^ Merlin Entertainments Executive Profiles: Nick Varney. Merlin Entertainments
- ^ "Blackstone Acquires Merlin Entertainment". blackstone.com. Retrieved 30 March 2015.
- ^ Alistair Osborne (16 October 2011) Cutting VAT on hotels could create 80,000 jobs. The Daily Telegraph
- ^ Ruth Mortimer (23 June 2011) The man on a quest to spread Merlin's magic. Marketing Week
- ^ Staffordshire University Graduates 2013 – Nick Varney awarded doctorate. staffs.ac.uk. Retrieved 27 March 2016.
- ^ "Merlin Entertainments Nick Varney, Chief Executive Officer, to retire". www.merlinentertainments.biz. Retrieved 29 April 2022.
- ^ "No. 64082". The London Gazette (Supplement). 17 June 2023. p. B2.