THE NEC Group has welcomed a new top boss.
Sir Nick Varney took over the reigns as the non-executive chair on September 1 – with the appointment just being made public.
Sir Nick has over 30 years’ experience working in the tourism and leisure industry and was chief executive officer at Merlin Entertainments from its inception in 1999 to his retirement in November 2022.
He oversaw a period of extraordinary growth for Merlin and transformed the business into a global provider of memorable experiences for over 60 million guests every year.
Nick has previously served as chair of UKHospitality, the trade body representing the UK’s hospitality and tourism industry, is currently a non-executive on the board of Marston’s PLC, a senior advisor to Blackstone Private Equity, and a non- executive chair of Bath Rugby.
Sir Nick said: “I am delighted to be joining the Board of the NEC Group and look forward to working closely with Mel and the executive team. This is a great business with a unique offering and world-class venues. I look forward to supporting the team in delivering on its significant potential.”
NEC Group chief executive, Melanie Smith said: “We are delighted to welcome Nick as Chair at such an exciting time for our business. We have ambitious plans to transform our site into the U.K’s entertainment and leisure capital, offering an ever-evolving set of experiences for everyone to explore and enjoy. Nick’s deep expertise in the leisure sector will be invaluable as we execute our plans.”
