Pattison lined up as new president
Robert (Bob) Masterson will step down as president of Ripley Entertainment on December 31, 2007, and will assume the position of chairman of the board. Jim Pattison Jnr, who has been with the company since 1990, will take over the role of president.
As chairman of the board, Masterson will relinquish his day-to-day involvement and will concentrate on the “big picture” activities of the quirky 90-year old company based in Orlando.
During his 19 years at the helm, Masterson has guided Ripley through a period of new growth and diversification, building Ripley from 13 small attractions in 1989 to the global expert it has become in trademark licensing, franchising, aquariums, and attraction operations.
The company now has over 60 attractions in 11 countries, entertaining more than 13 million guests annually. Diversions include the daily Ripley’s Believe It or Not! Cartoon, which runs daily in 200 newspapers across the globe, and a book division selling over a million copies a year.
“I leave my role as president with the company in good shape and in good hands,” says Masterson, who as well as serving as Ripley chairman recently assumed the same role within IAAPA, the International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions.
