Attraction World Group appoints Joe Hyland as chief executive

Attraction World Group (AWG) has appointed chief financial officer Joe Hyland as its new chief executive, following the departure of Olly Nicholls.

The experiences specialist announced on Tuesday (May 27) that chief executive Nicholls and chief commercial officer Justin Mahoney have “stepped away” from AWG.

Hyland was recruited to AWG by Nicholls in January 2024 as finance director and was promoted to CFO “in recognition of his immediate impact on the business”.

The group said he has “played a pivotal role in strengthening the company’s financial and operational foundation and positioning it for sustained growth with new and existing clients”.

Hyland trained at KPMG and is a chartered accountant with the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales (ICAEW). He has led teams across several sectors.

“His leadership alongside chief operating officer Isabel Beckermann marks the beginning of a dynamic new phase for the company,” said AWG in a statement on Wednesday (May 28).

Dipak Jogia, AWG chair and managing partner at Highmore Group, said: “Joe has made a transformative impact on the business with his disciplined approach and his ability to execute on strategic initiatives. 

“Since joining AWG, he has brought clarity, control and commercial insight that have fundamentally strengthened our operating model and positioned the business for continued growth.

“We have been incredibly impressed with his strong leadership skills, and confident in his ability to guide the company through its next phase of growth.”

Hyland added: “The performance of the business financially, in revenue terms, has improved over the period I’ve been here. Trading is robust currently and we are seeing significant growth, particularly across our retail channel.

“The vision of Attraction World remains the same – strategic global expansion, working closely with our trade partners and investment in tech-led solutions to improve our customer experience.

“I am passionate about the industry and proud and honoured to lead the fantastic team at Attraction World, which are the heart and soul of the company.

“One thing that’s really important to me is that Attraction World is in spirit a Birmingham company and the values of this company are really important to me.

“Our team is passionate about connecting people to unforgettable experiences, and we’re committed to delivering even greater value to our partners and customers around the world.”