CEO steps down amid steady performance for Dreamworld and WhiteWater World

For the first quarter of the 2009 financial year, Dreamworld and WhiteWater World have both reported attendance increases against the same period last year. CEO of the past four years Stephen Gregg has decided to step down from December 2008.

Image: Richard Wilson. Dreamworld CEO decides to call it quits after four years with the Gold Coast parks.

By Richard Wilson
31 October 2008

Dreamworld has reported modest attendance increases of around five per cent for the quarter. After a slow few years where attendance has been relatively stagnant – and even decreasing – this growth is a welcome change for a theme park located in an area with exceptionally high population growth.

Meanwhile sister water park WhiteWater World, a park still very much establishing itself in the tight Gold Coast theme park market, has recorded significant growth over the same period last year. Compared with the same time last year – which was only the third full quarter the park had been operating – WhiteWater World has seen attendance grow by nearly 25 per cent.

Stephen Gregg at The Claw's opening.

Amid this performance but unrelated, Stephen Gregg, Dreamworld's chief operating officer since early 2004 has decided to step down from the position from December of this year. Under Gregg's reign, the park added The Claw (purchased prior to his arrival), Wiggles World and WhiteWater World. 2007's Mick Doohan's Motocoaster was his last major attraction.

His replacement is not yet known; Macquarie Leisure Trust Group, owners of the parks have in the past filled the position with individuals with a history in hospitality and tourism rather than hiring from within the highly specialised theme park industry, where skilled and experienced executives cost significantly more and typically have to be brought in from the United States.

Dreamworld and WhiteWater World aren't alone in filling executive positions, with chief competitor Warner Village Theme Parks' chief operating officer Steve Peet recently stepped down. The industry veteran with over two decades working at their Gold Coast parks was replaced by Tim Fisher, who was initially brought on board to oversee and manage WVTP's United States expansion last year.

Mr Fisher worked for Kings Entertainment (later bought out by Paramount to form Paramount Parks), the company responsible for since-closed Australia's Wonderland in Sydney, and was the park's managing director up until prior to its sale to Malaysia's Sunway. Since then he has worked for Paramount, who up until recently owned the Kings Entertainment parks. Fisher has been replaced Stateside by WVTP's US senior VP Robert White, also a former Paramount executive. Both men report to John Menzies, WVTP CEO.