Universal Creative’s Thierry Coup, Mike Hightower and other executives are reportedly leaving the company in an NBCUniversal early retirement initiative.
According to TheWrap, the initiative is offered to staff who are over 57 and/or who have worked at the company for more than 10 years.
Universal Creative is dedicated to designing, developing and delivering themed attractions, rides, parks and resorts for Universal Parks & Resorts, a division of NBCUniversal.
Among the executives who have decided to take voluntary early retirement packages are Thierry Coup, senior vice president and chief creative officer of Universal Creative, and Mike Hightower, the segment’s president.
NBCUniversal early retirement initiative
Also departing is Mike Harrington, vice president of engineering and safety at Universal Studios Florida.
For the past 30 years, Coup has worked in a variety of creative roles for both Universal and Disney. He oversaw the development of Universal’s Wizarding World of Harry Potter.
Hightower was appointed as the new president of Universal Creative in January. He took over from Mark Woodbury, who was promoted to chairman and CEO of Universal Parks & Resorts.
As president, Hightower was responsible for the design and creation of rides at Universal theme parks across the globe.
In his previous role as senior vice president and executive project director for Universal Parks & Resorts, he oversaw major projects including the launch of Universal Studios Japan and Universal Beijing Resort.
The retirement of many of Universal Creative’s executives comes as the company prepares to open Universal Orlando’s new Epic Universe theme park.
Earlier this month, NBCUniversal CEO Jeff Shell confirmed that construction on Epic Universe is “right on track” for a 2025 opening.
“I was down there a couple of weeks ago and everything’s coming out of the ground,” said Shell. “So all the infrastructure is in, a lot of the steel is in, and now it’s just a question of building [it] out.”
Images: Universal
