Jeremy Johnson to step down from Sovereign Hill Chief Executive’s role

Jeremy Johnson, the long serving Chief Executive of Ballarat attraction Sovereign Hill, is to step down from his role in the middle of 2018.

Announcing Johnson’s departure, Sovereign Hill Board President Adrian Doyle stated “Jeremy has indicated to the Board that he wishes to step down from this role in June, 2018 (which) will enable a transition period to be developed by our Board and management while recruitment for his successor is undertaken.”

Doyle paid tribute to the achievements of the organisation under Johnson’s stewardship, adding “we have won the last four annual State Tourism Awards as Victoria’s Major Tourist Attraction and in February next year, we will be vying to win our third consecutive National Tourism Award in this category.

“Our annual visitation numbers and profits are at record levels and this has underpinned a very strong capital works program that continues to reinvent our internationally acclaimed outdoor museum. We are in a very strong financial position and look forward to our 50th Anniversary celebration in 2020.”

Johnson (pictured) who has been employed at Sovereign Hill since 1995 and has been Chief Executive since 2002 is widely recognised for his contribution to the tourism sector in particular and to the wider community in general.

He was awarded an Honorary Doctorate by Federation University in 2011 for his services to business and in 2012, received the Victorian State Tourism Award for Outstanding Contribution by an Individual. He is also a former Chair of the Victorian Tourism Industry Council.

Doyle said that an international reach recruitment campaign would be put in place to seek a replacement CEO, concluding “Jeremy is held in the highest esteem by all who know him as we wish his wife Anne and him every success for the future.”

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