accesso Technology Group PLC, a leading technology provider for attractions worldwide, has named Lee Cowie as chief executive officer as part of a planned leadership transition.
Cowie has been serving as accesso's chief operating officer for eighteen months, and succeeds Steve Brown, who established the company’s namesake, accesso business, in 2008.
While recently leading the company as CEO, Brown has cemented its position as the operational technology backbone for over 1,100 venues across 31 countries, with clients ranging from attractions to ski, hospitality and live entertainment sectors.
"This transition has been carefully planned, and I’m leaving the business in very good hands," says Brown.
"Accesso has a strong foundation, a talented team and expanding data intelligence capabilities that position it well for its next phase of growth.
"Lee's deep experience in this industry, his unique view as a former client, and his understanding of what operators need, makes him the right person to lead the business forward."
Intelligent, integrated infrastructure
Cowie has over 15 years of senior technology leadership across the global leisure and hospitality industry. His career includes seven years at Merlin Entertainments, most recently as chief technology officer, where he spearheaded technology at more than 125 visitor attractions in 28 countries.
Furthermore, he was awarded an MBA from Henley Business School and a BSc from Imperial College London.
"Accesso has spent 25 years building the infrastructure and ecosystem that operators trust with the moments that matter most," says Cowie.
"My focus from here is on making that infrastructure more intelligent, more connected, and simpler for the operators and visitors who depend on it.
"The AI era is coming into our industry and we are ready for it."
Cowie’s three core strategic priorities include the development of the AI-driven analytics and forecasting platform, accesso Intelligence, which is built on the acquisition of Dexibit, the only AI and analytics platform specifically designed for the visitor attractions sector.
He will also focus on the company's integrated payments strategy to streamline transaction economics for operators and guests, and an integration programme across accesso’s product estate to connect ticketing, queuing, POS, membership, and the visitor experience.
Further details on Cowie’s priorities can be found in a blog post on the accesso website.
Earlier this year, accesso announced the expansion of its long-term partnership with Adyen, the international financial technology platform of choice, to integrate embedded payments as a core platform capability throughout the accesso ecosystem.
Rebecca Hardy has over 10 years' experience in the culture and heritage sector. She studied Fine Art at university and has written for a broad range of creative organisations including artists, galleries, and retailers. When she's not writing, she spends her time getting lost in the woods and making mud pies with her young son.
