Pierre-Yves Gerbeau in 2014

Pierre-Yves Gerbeau (born 16 October 1965,[1] often shortened to P.Y. Gerbeau)[2] is a French businessman, former ice hockey player, and the current president of the French Ice Hockey Federation.[3][4]

Early life

Gerbeau was born into an affluent Parisian family, where his parents ran an office supply company. In addition to their house in the 12th arrondissement of Paris, they also had a weekend residence in the Forest of Fontainebleau.[2]

Sports career

Gerbeau started out in 1984 as a professional ice hockey player, playing in several championships and becoming a member of the French national team,[5] before a severe ankle injury curtailed his sports career in 1989.[2][6] While working in the United Kingdom, Gerbeau kept in touch with the game by playing inline hockey for the South London Snipers in Division 1 of the BIPHA South League.[7]

On an edition of the BBC's Daily Politics show, Gerbeau revealed that he had been suspended from the French Olympic Organisation because he supported London's successful bid for the 2012 Olympic Games instead of the Paris bid.[8]

On 1 October 2021, Gerbeau was appointed president of the French Ice Hockey Federation, replacing Luc Tardif after the latter became president of the International Ice Hockey Federation.[3] He was reelected in June 2022.[4]

Business career

He then turned to business, first with TPS Conseil, then in 1991 joined Euro Disney, rising rapidly to become Vice-President of Park Operations and Attractions in 1997. His responsibilities included ticketing, the safety and maintenance of attractions, and sorting out the queues.[6] He was credited with turning the attraction around after a difficult start.[9] He later left Disney to complete a Master of Business Administration degree at Sciences Po.[10][11]

On 5 February 2000, Gerbeau was appointed chief executive of the New Millennium Experience Company, the operator of the Millennium Dome in London. His appointment followed the resignation of Jennifer Page after an opening night fiasco and poor attendances in January 2000. He was brought in to turn around the fortunes of an attraction struggling in the face of major financial problems[12] and negative publicity.[13] Whilst in charge, he became known for his enthusiastic and confident personality,[14] and was nicknamed "the Gerbil" by the British press.[2]

Following the closure of the millennium exhibition at the end of 2000, Gerbeau became Chief executive of X-Leisure, operator of the Xscape centres and other leisure facilities.[11][15]

On 27 June 2019, Gerbeau was appointed chief executive officer of London Resort Company Holdings (LRCH), the owner of the proposed London Resort. [16] He resigned in December 2022, after 3 years serving as its CEO. The LRCH went into administration in March 2023.

Personal life

He is married to Kate Gerbeau (née Sanderson), a British television presenter, and has a daughter (Clémence)[17] from another relationship.[2] He also has a daughter with Kate.

Appearing on the BBC's Question Time on 28 May 2009, Gerbeau declared that he would live in Britain for the rest of his life, jokingly describing France as "a communist country."

References

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Pierre-Yves Gerbeau.
  1. ↑ "Hospitality Industry Trust Scotland" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2010-07-05. Retrieved 2009-07-11.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 P-Y Gerbeau: King of the Dome, BBC News Online, 31 December 2000, accessed 9 December 2006
  3. 1 2 "Pierre-Yves Gerbeau nouveau président de la Fédération française". lequipe.fr (in French). Groupe Aumaury. 1 October 2021. Retrieved 5 August 2022.
  4. 1 2 "Pierre-Yves Gerbeau réélu président de la FFHG". lequipe.fr (in French). Groupe Aumaury. 18 June 2022. Retrieved 5 August 2022.
  5. ↑ PIERRE YVES (PY) GERBEAU Biography Archived 2006-11-10 at the Wayback Machine, Norman Phillips Organisation, accessed 9 December 2006
  6. 1 2 Gerbeau: Genius or journeyman?, BBC News Online, 15 February 2001, accessed 9 December 2006
  7. ↑ "Home". inlinegb.co.uk.
  8. ↑ "BBC Two – Daily Politics, 09/11/2009".
  9. ↑ Head of Britain's Millennium Dome resigns, BBC News Online, 5 February 2000, accessed 9 December 2006
  10. ↑ Profile: New blood at the Dome, BBC News Online, 5 February 2000, accessed 9 December 2006
  11. 1 2 PY Gerbeau biography Archived 2007-09-28 at the Wayback Machine, CitySpeakers International, accessed 9 December 2006
  12. ↑ Dome 'can be on budget', BBC News Online, 11 July 2000, accessed 9 December 2006
  13. ↑ Dome boss hails 'popular' attraction, BBC News Online, 30 August 2000, accessed 9 December 2006
  14. ↑ High fliers head for UK boardrooms, BBC News Online, 24 January 2001, accessed 9 December 2006
  15. ↑ X-Leisure: From the CEO, X-Leisure, accessed 9 December 2006
  16. ↑ "Everything you need to know about new London Resort CEO PY Gerbeau". 27 June 2019.
  17. ↑ Cole Moreton P-Y Gerbeau: Zut alors! The Gerbil wants to be Napoleon The Independent, 2 December 2007
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