THE OWNER of Alton Towers and Madame Tussauds yesterday launched a hunt for a new chairman two months after it was taken private in a £6bn takeover deal.

Merlin Entertainments has appointed headhunter Spencer Stuart to recruit a successor to its long-serving chair Sir John Sunderland, Sky News reported.

The move follows Merlin's £6bn acquisition by a consortium consisting of Kirkbi — the investment vehicle of the Danish billionaire family behind Lego — and private equity firm Blackstone.

Chief executive Nick Varney is set to remain in his post following the takeover.

Merlin's brands include theme parks Alton Towers, Chessington World of Adventure and Thorpe Park, as well as Legoland Parks around the world and attractions such as Madame Tussauds, London Dungeons and Peppa Pig World.

Merlin's takeover was part of a wave of take-private deals last year which included Advent International's £4bn takeover of defence group Cobham and Thoma Bravo's acquisition of software firm Sophos for £3bn.

(c) 2020 City A.M., source Newspaper