Paragon Entertainment appoints industry vet Damien Latham as CEO

Attractions design and fit-out business Paragon Entertainment has appointed former Emaar Entertainment chief executive Damien Latham as CEO, with immediate effect.

Latham, a 25-year veteran of the leisure and entertainment industry, spent 14 years at Center Parcs before joining Majid Al Futtaim in Dubai as general manager, where he was responsible for a number of interests in the group's portfolio of attractions, including the Ski Dubai and Magic Planet operations.

In January 2018, he joined Emaar Entertainment as CEO to drive the rollout of Reel Cinemas.

Interim CEO Mark Pyrah will remain with Paragon as a board member, returning to the sales and development director position he held prior to being appointed to the role.

Chairman Mark Taylor said: "I would like to thank Mark Pyrah for stepping into the CEO role over the past seven months during which he has delivered an excellent performance under trying circumstances.

"I would also like to welcome Damien to the team. We are all excited at what this board can achieve and with Damien's experience and leadership I am sure Paragon will enter a new and exciting phase of its development."

As of 0935 BST, Paragon shares had climbed 5.26% to 1p.