Ian Sarjeant

Ian has been delivering major development projects for almost four decades and has been dedicated to the implementation of themed entertainment projects for 30 years. This has included the successful opening of 8 Theme Parks.

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After graduating with a degree in Civil Engineering, he spent 8 years working as a construction manager on major commercial projects throughout the United Kingdom.

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In 1991, he moved into the theme park industry with a four-year term with Walt Disney Imagineering at Disneyland Paris as a general superintendent, before moving back to the UK with Bovis Lehrer McGovern where he continued his experience in show and ride procurement and installation at LEGOLAND Windsor.

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This was followed in 1997 with a move to California for a project management role with the LEGO Group leading to the opening of LEGOLAND California and LEGOLAND Deutschland.

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Ian and two Swiss partners then formed a small Zurich based consulting business called Maxmakers in early 2003 and spent 5 years focusing on feasibility analyses and conceptual planning for numerous entertainment related projects in Eastern Europe, the Middle East and Asia.

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In 2008 Ian joined Merlin Entertainments as Senior Project Director and was responsible for the full project development process for the 5 latest LEGOLAND Parks, including the openings of Florida, Malaysia, Dubai, and Japan.

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In early 2021, after 20 years on the road, Ian formed SMI Project Services to provide consulting services to the Themed Entertainment Industry.