Village Roadshow CEO Graham Burke AO to retire at end of 2019, Gold Coast’s Clark Kirby up for job

Theme parks giant Village Roadshow Ltd has announced its CEO would retire at the end of the year, opening the door for a Gold Coaster to take the reins of the listed company.

Village Roadshow Co-Executive Chairman and Co-Chief Executive Officer Graham Burke is set to reture. Picture by Luke Marsden.

GOLD Coast theme parks boss Clark Kirby is in line to run listed entertainment giant Village Roadshow Ltd after the company announced its long-serving CEO Graham Burke AO would retire at the end of the year.

In a statement to the ASX, alongside the company’s half-year results this morning, Village said Mr Burke would remain on the company’s board as a non-executive director.

“The board intends to conduct a wide-ranging, global and domestic executive search, with an external search firm to support this process,” the statement said.

“Clark Kirby who is Chairman and CEO of VRL’s largest division, Village Roadshow Theme Parks will be an internal candidate for the role.”

Clark Kirby CEO of Village Roadshow Theme Parks at Movie World on the Gold Coast. Pics Adam Head

The news follows reports of a rift inside the company, with Clark’s uncle John, lobbying to oust Robert Kirby and pushing to unseat Mr Burke.

Graham Burke started work for Roc Kirby, Village Roadshow’s founder and Clark’s grandfather, at the age of 14 as a ticket collector and floor sweeper at Town Hall Pictures, Ararat in Victoria.

At age 23, he became managing director of Village Drive-In Limited.

In 1988, Village Roadshow listed on the ASX, and Mr Burke was its inaugural CEO.

He led the company into its highly successful theme parks investments, and was the driving force behind the establishment of Roadshow, which was key to the production of more Australian films than the rest of the industry combined.

More recently, Graham has been at the forefront of the campaign to tackle content piracy both in Australia and globally.

Village Roadshow Co-Executive Chairman and Co-Chief Executive Officer Graham Burke. Picture by Luke Marsden.

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Executive chairman Robert Kirby said Mr Burke was “a giant of our industry”.

“Together we have seen the evolution of this company into the incredible entertainment business it is today, Graham having been a part of it for 63 years,” he said.

“We thank him for his enduring commitment and the leadership he has shown. Graham leaves an extraordinary legacy as CEO and we look forward to his continued involvement on the board.

“Graham’s agreement to remain on the board ensures that his invaluable experience and knowledge will continue to benefit Village Roadshow, and allows him to provide advice and mentorship for the incoming CEO.”

Mr Burke said it had been an honour to lead Village Roadshow.

“I am exceptionally proud of everything that has been achieved,” he said in the statement.

“I am incredibly optimistic about the future of the company and look forward to serving on the board in support of the new CEO.

Clark Kirby CEO of Village Roadshow Theme Parks. Pics Adam Head

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“I want to thank the thousands of my colleagues who come to work each day with passion and dedication to creating great entertainment experiences for our customers,” Mr Burke said.

“From humble beginnings as a small cinema circuit, we’ve contributed hundreds of millions of dollars into the local economy, provided employment and careers for thousands of Australians, become a mainstay in Australia’s tourism industry and been involved in the production of some of the most iconic films of all time. Having said all of that, I firmly believe the best is yet to come.”

More to come