According to this press release, SeaWorld Entertainment, Inc. announced that its Board of Directors has appointed Joel Manby as President and Chief Executive Officer, effective April 7, 2015. At that time, Manby, 55, will also join the Company’s Board of Directors. David F. D’Alessandro, who has served as interim CEO, will continue to serve as the Company’s Chairman.
Most recently, Manby has served as President and Chief Executive Officer of Herschend Enterprises, the largest family-owned theme park and entertainment company in the United States. Herschend owns Dollywood in Pigeon Forge, TN, Silver Dollar City in Branson, MO, Wild Adventures in Valdosta, GA, and Darien Lake in Darien, NY. They also own three water parks, and several other properties, including Dolly Parton’s Dixie Stampede and the Harlem Globetrotters.
“The Board of Directors has completed an extensive search process and we are extremely pleased to welcome Joel Manby to SeaWorld Entertainment. Joel has nearly 20 years’ experience and a proven track record with business models very similar to ours – multiple brands and multiple properties in the entertainment and theme park industries,” said D’Alessandro. “Even in the most challenging business environments, Joel has consistently enhanced the performance of the companies he has led for customers, investors and employees alike. He has the experience and qualifications to lead our Company into the future.”
Before joining Herschend, Mr. Manby spent 20 years in the auto industry, working for Saab, General Motors, and Saturn. He holds an MBA from Harvard Business School, and serves on the boards of several companies and organizations, including Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen and the National Advisory Board of the Salvation Army.
“I am honored to be selected as SeaWorld Entertainment’s new CEO. This Company has tremendous brands, and for more than 50 years, families have come to our parks to learn about animals, have fun and be entertained,” Manby said. “We are known for our exceptional operations and world-class animal care. My job is to build on that foundation while consistently improving and innovating in a competitive environment. I look forward to working with our more than 23,000 team members through the challenges ahead.”
SeaWorld Entertainment owns and operates 5 theme parks (Busch Gardens Tampa/Williamsburg, SeaWorld Orlando/San Antonio/San Diego), 5 separate ticketed water parks (Adventure Island in Tampa, FL, Water Country U.S.A in Williamsburg, VA, and Aquatica Orlando/San Antonio/San Diego) as well as Discovery Cove in Orlando and Sesame Place in Pennsylvania.
Information and quotes from PRNewsWire were used in this post.
Recent Discussion