The London Resort, a £2.5bn theme park project set to open in 2025 on the Swanscombe Peninsula in Kent, has announced two new board members – Frank Baker and Ahmed Al Aiban.
The UK-based attraction will cover an area of 535 acres and will create 30,000 jobs. The new board members will address the next phase of London Resort Company Holdings’ capital raise.
British diplomat Frank Baker, CMG OBE served in the British Embassy in Washington in 2003. He later served as British ambassador to Kuwait, Iraq and Libya, before working in renewable energy and political and commercial risk management.
Ahmed Al Aiban was instrumental in the growth of Ernst & Young in the Middle East as executive chairman. He also served on the board of the Kuwait Investment Authority from 2017 until 2021.
The new board members are replacing Abdulla Al Humaidi, whose brother Dherar remains on the board to represent the family, and Ayman Chit, former CFO of KEH Group.
Frank Baker and Ahmed Al Aiban join board
“I am delighted to have been joined by professionals of such calibre and experience,” said Steve Norris, chairman of London Resort Company Holdings (LRCH).
“The combined experience and contacts of the group will provide us with invaluable strategic counsel and we are thrilled to have them on board.”
The London Resort’s CEO PY Gerbeau previously revealed that the development will continue as planned, despite the site’s SSSI designation by Natural England.
“To all the naysayers and doom-mongers, the London Resort is going ahead, as planned,” Gerbeau said at the blooloop V-Expo in October while announcing the first businesses chosen for the destination.
Last month, the BBC and ITV confirmed that they are no longer involved in the London Resort, which was due to feature attractions and rides inspired by BBC and ITV shows. Prior to that, the project announced a strategic partnership with PwC.
Images: London Resort Company Holdings
