Geoff Chutter

Geoff Chutter (born 1952) is the founder, president and CEO of WhiteWater West, the world’s largest designer and manufacturer of water parks.^[1]

Early life

Chutter was born and raised and in Vancouver, British Columbia. His father was an engineer for a Lafarge cement plant; his father’s work temporarily relocated the family to Paris where Chutter attended high school.^[2] He earned a degree as an accountant from University of Toronto.^[3]

Career

While working as an auditor for KPMG, he visited the first waterslide park in Canada, located in Kelowna.^[4] He founded WhiteWater West in 1980, together with his uncle, in Penticton, Canada.^[5] That location has since closed,^[6] but in 2020, the company has over 5,000 installments, 600 employees, and international offices.^[7]

He was a candidate in the Vancouver Quadra political race in 1993 as a member of the Conservative party.^[2]

Personal life

Chutter is unmarried with one child from a previous marriage. His son Paul joined the family business in 2014 as chief business development officer.^[4]

Awards

• 2000: Chutter and Whitewater were inducted into The World Waterpark Association Hall of Fame.^[8]
• 2013: Chutter was named one of Aquatics International’s most influential people.^[9]
• 2019: Ernst & Young’s Canadian Entrepreneur of the Year in 2019^[10][11]
• 2019: Outstanding Service Award by the Global Association for the Attractions (IAAPA)^[12]