Ardent Leisure chief executive Deborah Thomas is stepping down in a surprise move that ends her tenure of transformation, six months on from the tragedy that claimed four lives at the company's Dreamworld theme park.
An announcement from Ardent on Wednesday said Ms Thomas had initiated the change of command, stepping down to be replaced by former Nine Entertainment Co chief operating officer and chief financial officer Simon Kelly.
Ms Thomas will become chief customer officer and chief operating officer for Australasia on July 1, overseeing the revitalisation of the troubled Gold Coast theme park and Ardent's other Australian businesses, WhiteWater World and AMF bowling centres.
Mr Kelly will guide Ardent's ongoing transformation into a US-focused entertainment company, continuing work begun by Ms Thomas with the disposal of Ardent's gyms and marinas businesses and expansion into the US.
The company made the announcement almost six months to the day after the horrific ride accident at Dreamworld on October 25, 2016.
Ardent and Ms Thomas faced criticism over their handling of the disaster - including an aborted bid to reopen the park four days later, and the awarding of $843,000 worth of performance bonuses to Ms Thomas at an annual general meeting held two days after the accident.
Ms Thomas was also criticised for claiming during a press conference that she had spoken to the families of the dead, only to have the mother of a victim say that she had not been contacted.
Ms Thomas subsequently promised to donate the cash part of her bonus worth $167,500 to the Red Cross.
Ardent's board said the change of leadership was aimed at delivering on a strategy of transforming the company into Main Event Entertainment Group - a "pure play global entertainment company" focused on the US.
Ardent currently operates about 30 Main Event centres in the US, which feature bowling alleys, laser tag, bars and eateries, and plans to open another eight next financial year.
The controversy at the end of Ms Thomas's time in the top job was matched by disquiet upon her initial appointment in the role two years ago.
Ms Thomas, a former Australian Women's Weekly editor with a distinguished media career, was unexpectedly appointed CEO in April 2015, displacing 13-year veteran Greg Shaw.
At the time there were calls for an extraordinary shareholder meeting in a bid to have Mr Shaw reinstated, and the company's share price tumbled.
Ardent posted mixed results after her first six months in charge and its fortunes improved with its full-year profit jumping 32 per cent to $42 million in the 2015/16 financial year.
Just a month later, in October last year, the accident happened at Dreamworld.
"During Deborah's leadership, our company has experienced an unprecedented level of reorientation and change and has positioned itself strongly for solid future growth," Ardent Leisure chairman George Venardos said on Wednesday.
Ardent Leisure also announced the resignation of chief financial officer Richard Johnson, who is returning to the UK to be with his family.
Ardent shares closed three cents higher at $2.04.
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