THOMAS L. WILLIAMS
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Universal Parks & Resorts


Tom Williams was named chairman and chief executive officer of Universal Parks & Resorts in September 1999. He reports directly to Universal Studios president and chief operating officer Ron Meyer.

Williams is responsible for the oversight of all of Universal Studios recreation projects, including the Universal Studios Hollywood theme park and Universal Studios CityWalk retail and entertainment complex in Hollywood; Universal Studios theme park in Orlando, Florida; and the most technologically advanced theme park in the world, Universal Studios Islands of Adventure, also located in Orlando. Both parks are part of a huge, multi-faceted resort destination, which includes on-site hotels and a second Universal Studios CityWalk. The cumulative project is known as Universal Orlando.

Williams also oversees Universal Parks & Resorts’ rapid and broad-based international expansion, including Universal Mediterranea theme park near Barcelona, Spain; and Universal Studios Japan.

Universal Studios Japan is Universal Parks & Resorts’ fifth theme park worldwide and is the anchor element in the redevelopment in Japan’s second largest city, Osaka.

Prior to his appointment as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer for UPR, Williams was President and Chief Executive Officer of Universal Orlando, where he was responsible for overseeing Universal’s expansion there into a world-class resort entertainment destination.

Williams joined Universal Studios Florida in 1987 as part of the project’s “opening team” and led the group that designed and developed all operational aspects for the new park, which debuted in 1990. Named president that year, Mr. Williams helped build Universal Studios Florida into a park the renowned Fodor’s Guide has named, “The best theme park in the world.” In 1994, Universal Studios Florida received the industry’s most prestigious honor, the coveted “Applause Award”, presented by Amusement Business for theme park “management, operations and creative accomplishments that have inspired the industry with foresight, originality and sound business development.”

With over 30 years in the hospitality and leisure industries, Williams began his career with Universal Parks & Resorts (formerly Universal Studios Recreation Group) at the Yosemite Park & Curry Company. He became Vice President of Hotels and Restaurants for Yosemite National Park and was responsible for guest services and operations at 12 on-site hotels and 14 restaurants prior to coming to Orlando in 1987.

A graduate of California State University, Fresno, Williams is a founding trustee of both World Class Schools (Florida) and United Arts of Central Florida and is currently on the Board of Directors for the Emeril Lagasse Foundation.