Merlin Entertainments has appointed Sarah Venning as its new chief digital and data officer for the group.

Venning will focus on bringing together the key areas in Merlin’s technology, data and digital capabilities to help the company build a digital strategy and deliver a seamless digital experience for guests and team members.
She joins from café chain Pret A Manger, where she was global digital officer and has previously held roles at John Lewis and Heathrow Airport.
Scott O’Neil, CEO of Merlin Entertainments, said: “As Merlin Entertainments begins its next phase of growth across our Legoland Resorts, resort theme parks and midway attractions around the world, we recognised we needed to add talent that maps to our ambitions. Sarah Venning is the type of extraordinary executive who will lead us there.
“Innovation, creativity, passion and the discipline to do the heavy lifting are all hallmarks of this company, and a perfect fit for a leader like Sarah. Her experience in driving change, attracting talent, building teams and transforming companies will set Merlin on the next step of our trajectory, as our guests look for us to continue to be ahead of the curve on our innovative digital journey.
“Across all of our 140-plus attractions, our focus will be on working with the most exciting brands and IP, delivering the best customer service and all whilst providing guests with a truly personalised digital experience they have come to expect.”