Bikash resigns from VRTP

[themagician]

Village Roadshow’s COO Bikash Randhawa has resigned after 30 years with the company.

There’s a paywall, so if anyone can access and share the full article please and thanks!

 https://www.themercury.com.au/news/gold-coast/village-roadshow-theme-parks-chief-operating-officer-bikash-randhawa-departs/news-story/deff894777c9475689674d50b0835dbe

Edited April 10 by themagician

[New display name]

Let's speculate before we find out the truth.🤣

My speculation.

 

 

[CR4ZE]

He has shared a lengthy farewell message on his socials.

Quote

After three decades with Village Roadshow Theme Parks, I am departing the business with some sadness and at the same time a lot of joy and pride. Clark Kirby my CEO, VRTP Board and the exceptional team at BGH, it’s been a terrific journey, challenging, rewarding and crazy at times with what we have gone through over the years, you all have been incredible since we started together, thank you for allowing me to do what I did best over the years. Special thank you to Robert Kirby our Chairman and Graham Burke who mentored me and taught me on how to aim for the moon and land on a star, and to never give up.

My GM’s and the team at VRTP you all are amazing and I look forward to watching you achieve more.

My Time at VRTP

Throughout my diverse roles, from starting as a food and beverage attendant to becoming chief operating officer, I’ve learned invaluable life lessons from various bosses and thousands of team members that I engaged over time. Every position I executed, offered opportunities for growth and development. From Hotel, F&B, convention, retail, marine science, attractions, animal welfare, shows, rides, marketing, media, thousands of interviews with print and television over the years, PR, creative work, TV ads, Batman jumping off a high rise in Surfers Paradise, sales, water parks, capital projects, operating a business in the US, working with IP partners across the globe, I was fortunate enough to do all of this and every day was filled with excitement and opportunities.

I always supported my team, championed the seven businesses I was responsible for, and gave my best to our guests and our industry. When COVID-19 hit, it was a challenging time for many of us, but we persevered to protect our team to keep them all together through this time. It broke a lot of us down but we came back together for the good of our Industry and got to the other side.

As an operator, I was passionate, fair, demanding, compassionate when required, over the top crazy and sometimes unreasonable, but my team got me and backed me every single day. If I was overly focused towards anyone or a situation, it was because I recognised their talent and wanted to help them reach their full potential in that given situation. I’m proud to have promoted so many who have surpassed every expectations and have taken on roles that I had held and have done a better job than I did when I was there, that’s how one needs to recruit, look for someone better than you, it always works, looking at the team now they are bloody amazing. I fought for village behind the scenes and sometimes publicly with anyone and everyone if it called for it, I spoke my mind, said things that people were scared to say or think about. I never held back but I did it for the team.

We accomplished many impossible things and faced numerous unexpected challenges, including floods, tornadoes, and a cyclone, most recently. The team persevered, and I’m incredibly proud of that. We did it together and came out on the other side stronger and even more resilient. Millions of dollars worth of refurbishment at our Resort, transforming Sea World as their GM, opening up the Convention Centre based on a concept that I drew on a piece of paper to convincing the then CEO with nothing more than just passion to build this for the Resort. Convincing someone overnight on a idea to open an exhibition at Movie World to thinking of other ideas at 2am and meeting with people at 6am to then pitch it to the powers to be, and many other things over the years at Movie World, Wet n Wild, Spooky nights, Carnival, the Wooden coaster, Trident, and more. I was bold and adventurous because of the team that surrounded me, they gave me the strength to accept risks and I never doubted them, I trusted them unconditionally. We never left a room or an idea until we were all united and on the same page. Everyone had a voice regardless of their position at the table and I for one am proud of doing this, the quiet ones started to speak up and the loud ones allowed the quiet ones to voice their opinion. Whether you were in tech services or a GM, I always dropped everything to listen and understand, not just respond.

I believed in every aspect of Village portfolios, spreading nothing but positivity even during challenging times. People who knew me understood me completely and supported me unconditionally. At times, it took a toll on me, but it was all worth it. Anyone who called me from outside of Village, I always responded promptly and efficiently. I would often complete deals over the phone because I believed in the people or their cause. I made many incredible friendships outside of my work, and I appreciate all of you. To anyone I pushed or upset, it was never personal. I did this for my company and my team. I never accepted a bad deal for Village or for you. I may not have been perfect, but my intention was always sincere.

Now, it’s time for me to finally put my feet up after a long hard commitment and relentless effort for 3 decades to relax and enjoy some well-deserved downtime with my wife and children. They, unintentionally became my second priority, and my work (my passion blinded me) my first. It’s time to change that.

I thank my wife Tala and both my sons Jai and Rohan for their patience and support over the last many years, I could not have done this without them, they inspire me to always do my best.

My next adventure will be one to make a difference and share all that I’ve learned. I hope to create more ambassadors for our beloved tourism industry, inspire and contribute to this city that is our home. Whilst it will be an awkward feeling after driving in one direction for the last 30 years, I leave behind fond memories and the best team anyone could ask for. You all will continue to rock and shine every day, making Village proud.

Thank you to everyone at Village Roadshow Theme Parks. It’s been an honour to serve you, our guests, suppliers, and the hundreds of small businesses for the past three decades. Stay well, stay safe, and be the best of the best. I will miss you all. I’ve done all that I could with the incredible freedom and trust I was given. Now, it’s your stage, your show, and I’ll enjoy it from the outside with great pride and joy, success is yours with everything you do. To every local Counciller and their teams that I have worked with, thank you…to everyone in State government thank you to you and your teams, we have collectively achieved a lot for tourism and our city. Our future is bright and the journey only leads up to bigger and better opportunities.

An important attribute to success is to be yourself. Never hide what makes you, you. People are the most important asset in any organisation, it is what brings life to brick and mortar be it a theme park or a Hotel or anything out there.

VRTP team, signing off as your COO and signing in as your friend, VRTP is the best company from top to bottom and it will always lead the charge in driving Tourism. If you need anything reach out and I will do what I can to help you, it’s in my DNA to serve and assist making a positive difference to anything i touch.

Bikash Randhawa

Chief operating Officer

Village Roadshow Theme Parks

1995 - 2025

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/16DKaHKmNZ/

The end of an era.

[Brad2912]

One of the Gold Coast’s best-known tourism figures - who went from bartender to boss - has quit the city’s biggest theme park operator after more than three decades.

Bikash Randhawa has resigned after a 30-year career at Village Roadshow where he rose to the high-ranking post of chief operating officer.

However Mr Randhawa - who oversaw its theme parks including Movie World, Wet’n’Wild and Sea World – isn’t going anywhere, vowing to stay on the Gold Coast and be involved in the tourism sector.
 

Mr Randhawa said it was time for a change – and a break

“In (30-plus) years I never had more than two weeks off, so I’m going to take three months off,” he said

“In future I want to influence tourism, I’ll have no shackles. I love the city, I support the city and I know just about every small business owners, media person and politician.”

In a lengthy post to his social media on Thursday morning, Mr Randhawa said: “After three decades with Village Roadshow Theme Parks, I am departing the business with some sadness and at the same time a lot of joy and pride. 

“Clark Kirby my CEO, VRTP Board and the exceptional team at BGH (Capital), it’s been a terrific journey, challenging, rewarding and crazy at times with what we have gone through over the years, you all have been incredible since we started together, thank you for allowing me to do what I did best over the years.

“Special thank you to Robert Kirby our Chairman and (former Village CEO) Graham Burke who mentored me and taught me on how to aim for the moon and land on a star, and to never give up. My GMs and the team at VRTP you all are amazing and I look forward to watching you achieve more.”
 

In a typically frank admission, Mr Randhawa, a popular if outspoken figure, added: “As an operator, I was passionate, fair, demanding, compassionate when required, over the top crazy and sometimes unreasonable, but my team got me and backed me every single day. 

“If I was overly focused towards anyone or a situation, it was because I recognised their talent and wanted to help them reach their full potential in that given situation. I’m proud to have promoted so many who have surpassed every expectations and have taken on roles that I had held and have done a better job than I did when I was there, that’s how one needs to recruit, look for someone better than you, it always works, looking at the team now they are bloody amazing.

“I fought for Village behind the scenes and sometimes publicly with anyone and everyone if it called for it, I spoke my mind, said things that people were scared to say or think about. I never held back but I did it for the team.

“Now, it’s time for me to finally put my feet up after a long hard commitment and relentless effort for three decades to relax and enjoy some well-deserved downtime with my wife and children. They, unintentionally became my second priority, and my work (my passion blinded me) my first. It’s time to change that.”

Village Roadshow CEO Clark Kirby said Mr Randhawa had been “a driving force ensuring the ongoing success of Village Roadshow Theme Parks”. 

“His leadership, passion and advocacy for our people and properties has been felt by all who interacted with him, and he will be missed,” he said. 

“Bikash leaves an incredible legacy through the numerous high-profile projects he has been integral to, including many amazing new attractions and precinct openings.

“In his position as COO, Bikash has helped navigate our business through some of our toughest periods and throughout his focus remained on delivering superior outcomes and ensuring the wellbeing of our team. 

“We thank him for his unwavering commitment to ensuring our business not only survived but continues to thrive.   

“Outside of our theme parks, Bikash is one of the city’s most passionate tourism ambassadors and at every opportunity he has advocated for the City of Gold Coast.  

“We know Bikash will succeed in whatever the future brings, and he leaves knowing he will always be a member of our extended Village Roadshow family.”

 

[DaptoFunlandGuy]

There was a time when I would have said that Bikash's departure from Village would be an opportunity to celebrate. 

I don't know his reasons or his terms, so unsure how Clark and the rest of the leadership team feel about this - but I don't think Bikash is the only person for whom responsibility for the current state of Village should rest.

However he departed, the fact that we find out from his personal statement, and a media article, rather than a statement by the company \ park outlining his legacy and also his replacement only goes further to make me feel all is not well at Village Roadshow.

[Park Addict 93]

I have certainly had issues with Bikash and vice versa but as much as I hate to agree with @DaptoFunlandGuy I have to agree with his statement.

[Michelangelo]

6 hours ago, New display name said:

Let's speculate before we find out the truth.🤣

My speculation.

 

 

I think he’s the one that steered into the ice berg…