Karen Irwin took over as president and CEO of Universal Orlando Resort in January 2022 when former president Bill Davis retired after 15 years. In this role, she leads planning and operations for the resort, including its three theme parks and seven hotels, as well as the CityWalk entertainment, shopping and dining complex. Prior to this, she served as president of Universal Studios Hollywood for five years, after rising through the ranks at the resort since she first began as an area manager in 1990. In total, Irwin has worked for the company for over 30 years.
In 2020, she also took on the additional role of EVP Universal Parks and Resorts, leading the NBC Universal Brand Development team, and taking on responsibility for global licensing and consumer products businesses for NBC Universal’s Film and Television groups.
At Universal Studios Hollywood, Irwin led the development and opening of The Secret Life of Pets: Off the Leash, based on Illumination’s 2016 film and its sequel. This immersive experience sees guests taking on the roles of stray puppies as they join the film’s popular leading characters — Max, Snowball, Gidget, Chloe and Duke — on a search for their forever homes. It brings together live, dimensional and animated characters with hyper-realistic media and ride vehicles that travel through a recreation of the streets of New York City.
When the ride was announced, Irwin said: “We are thrilled to be able to bring another exciting Illumination movie-based ride to our guests. The Secret Life of Pets: Off the Leash! will capture the essence of the popular film and invite our guests to live vicariously through some of their favourite characters as they embark on a one-of-a-kind experience only available at Universal Studios Hollywood.”
Epic Universe, the fourth theme park at Universal Orlando Resort in Florida, is expected to open by the summer of 2025.