Bill Ernest
Born1950 (age 73–74)
United States
NationalityAmerican
EducationBachelor hospitality management and recreational management, MBA
Alma materSouthern Illinois University
Occupation(s)CEO, for Saudi Entertainment Ventures (SEVEN) Company

William Ernest (born December 16, 1950) is the former CEO of Saudi Entertainment Ventures (SEVEN) Company. He had previously had occupied the role of president and managing director, Asia, for Walt Disney Parks & Resorts. He assumed this role in April 2008 and retired in early 2018 after a nearly 24-year career with Disney.[1] Ernest was formerly the executive vice president and managing director of Hong Kong Disneyland Resort. Ernest was named to the position in January 2006, replacing Disney veteran Don Robinson. Previously, Ernest served as managing director of operations at the Hong Kong resort.[2]

Early life and education

Ernest received bachelor's and master's degrees in hospitality management and recreational management from Southern Illinois University. A high school football player, he turned down a football scholarship to attend the Phillips Exeter Academy. I was this guys roommate at SIU in 1969-70 and he claims he went to a private school that year forgoing a football scholarship. Born in Dec 1950 I guess he could have started school at 5 years old.

Career

Before joining Disney in 1994 as general manager of Disney's Hilton Head Island Resort, Ernest opened more than 40 hotels for Marriott Corporation. After the Hilton Head position, Ernest was promoted to general manager of field businesses, where he was responsible for incorporating Disney's Vero Beach Resort into the company's Disney Vacation Club timeshare program. He later served as general manager of Disney's Caribbean Beach Resort, Disney's All-Star Sports Resort, Disney's All-Star Music Resort and Disney's All-Star Movies Resort at Walt Disney World Resort and vice president of operations and support for Disney Cruise Line. In 2018 he was named CEO of “Saudi Entertainment Ventures (SEVEN)”.[3][4][5]

References

  1. ↑ "Walt Disney Parks and Resorts Announces Promotions of Key Leaders". news-en.hongkongdisneyland.com. Retrieved 2018-11-14.
  2. ↑ "Disney Veteran Bill Ernest Promoted to lead Hong Kong Disneyland Resort". AsiaTravelTips.com. 11 January 2006. Retrieved 22 February 2011.
  3. ↑ "Saudi DIEC rebrands to SEVEN, names Bill Ernest as CEO". Retrieved 2018-11-14.
  4. ↑ الإلكترونية, صحيفة سبق. "شركة "مشاريع الترفيه السعودية" تطلق هويتها الجديدة". صحيفة سبق الإلكترونية (in Arabic). Retrieved 2018-11-14.
  5. ↑ ArgaamPlus. "Saudi PIF entertainment arm rebrands to SEVEN, names new CEO". ArgaamPlus. Retrieved 2018-11-14.


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