Warner Bros. Discovery Launches Global Division for Experiences, Theme Parks, Studio Tours and More Led by Simon Robinson

Warner Bros. Discovery The company announced a new global structure for its worldwide studio tours, retail destinations, traveling exhibitions and all location-based experiences, bringing together existing licensed entertainment and owned-and-operated teams into a single worldwide division called Warner Bros. Discovery Global Experiences.

The new organization under his leadership Simon RobinsonAs chief operating officer of WBD Studios, he will be tasked with strategically expanding the company’s fan-facing experiences and pursuing new businesses that leverage intellectual property, such as Universal Destinations & Experiences and Miral, and operating businesses such as Warner Bros. Studio Tours in London, Hollywood and Tokyo.

“WBD has an incredible mix of location-based experiences for fans around the world, from theme parks and tours to exhibitions, retail and more,” said Bruce Campbell, chief revenue and strategy officer. “Bringing these two teams together under one roof gives us the opportunity to leverage and coordinate the talent and resources across all of our experiential businesses, allowing us to better delight our consumers by delivering even more truly authentic and engaging in-person experiences and events in every market.”

Specifically, WBD Global Experiences combines the company’s existing global themed entertainment licensing group and the Studio Tours & Retail owned and operated businesses into a new cohesive, unified division. The new team will develop and execute global strategies that offer partners the right mix of both models, positioning WBD to drive worldwide growth in the creation, development, licensing and operation of location-based entertainment inspired by Harry Potter, DC, Looney Tunes, Scooby-Doo, Game of Thrones, Friends, Discovery and more.

Robinson will report to Campbell on Experiences and will continue to report to WBD’s CFO Gunnar Wiendenfels for studio and content operations and financial roles.

He appointed two experienced people to his new organization to work under him.

Peter van Roden, EVP of Global Themed Entertainment, will continue in his role leading the division’s global business development, as well as its licensed location-based entertainment and theme parks businesses. His team will continue to manage partnerships for Universal Destinations & Experiences for The Wizarding World of Harry Potter locations, Miral for Warner Bros. World Abu Dhabi and The WB Abu Dhabi, and the company’s other licensed exhibits.

And Sarah Roots, Vice President, Worldwide Studio Tours and Retail, will continue in her role overseeing WBD’s owned and operated experiences, including the award-winning Warner Bros. Studio Tour – The Making of Harry Potter, Warner Bros. Studio Tour Hollywood and the Harry Potter flagship store and other retail stores.

“Peter and Sarah are experts at orchestrating and executing global location-based experiences at the highest level. Our teams have an obsession with the detail we bring to every project, and together we will be able to deliver more than what partners and fans expect from a Warner Bros. experience,” Robinson said.