Warner Bros. Discovery is consolidating its Global Themed Entertainment licensing group — which includes the Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal's theme parks — and its Studio Tours & Retail group under one umbrella.
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The new division, called Warner Bros. Discovery Global Experiences, will bring together the company's global studio tours, retail destinations, traveling exhibits and all of its location-based experiences based on its franchises, including Harry Potter, DC, Looney Tunes, Scooby-Doo, Game of Thrones and Friends. The group "will be charged with strategically expanding the company's fan-centric experiences and pursuing new businesses," such as those with Universal Destinations & Experiences and Warner Bros. Studio Tours in Hollywood, London and Tokyo, the company said.
Simon Robinson, COO of WBD Studios, will add oversight of Warner Bros. Discovery Global Experiences to his responsibilities. He will report to WBD Chief Revenue and Strategy Officer Bruce Campbell for Experiences and will continue to report to WBD CFO Gunnar Wiendenfels for his studio and content operations and finance roles. Reporting to Robinson are Peter van Roden, EVP, Global Themed Entertainment, and Sarah Roots, EVP, Worldwide Studio Tours & Retail.
A WBD representative said there are no layoffs or executive departures with the reorganization. "This is very much about growth in the experience space," the spokesperson said.
