Now, shares in embattled Dreamworld owner Ardent Leisure have fallen 3.6 per cent in early trade after it said Chief Executive Officer Simon Kelly is stepping down after just six months in the role.
The shock departure comes just weeks after veteran corporate raider Gary Weiss took over as the new chairman, with a range of plans to reinvigorate the company.
The latest leadership turmoil comes just over a year since the tragic Thunder River Rapids ride incident at Dreamworld, which cost the lives of four people. A coronial enquiry of the incident is yet to start.
Mr Kelly, who replaced the previous chief executive Deborah Thomas in June, has had a tumultuous time during his tenure as CEO with board controversies, earning declines at Dreamworld and the impact of Hurricane Harvey in late August, which led to the temporary closure of some of Ardent's Main Event venues in Texas.
Informing investors of Mr Kelly's sudden departure, Ardent said finance chief Geoff Richardson would act as interim CEO while it searches for a new chief executive.
'The board of directors is disappointed with Simon's resignation and would like to thank him for his contribution to the group and wish him well in the future,' Gary Weiss said in a statement.
This article originally appeared on New Idea.
