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Six Flags shake-up
New Six Flags CEO James Reid- Anderson
Six Flags Entertainment Corporation has named James Reid-Anderson as its new chairman, president and chief executive officer (CEO), effective immediately. The 51-year-old British-born executive previously performed the same role at Dade Behring Holdings, the world’s largest provider of clinical diagnostics. Under his guidance, the company emerged from Chapter 11 bankruptcy and was sold to Siemens AG, where Reid- Anderson took up a succession of senior positions. “Jim is an exceptional CEO, and he brings to Six Flags an outstanding track record of shareholder value creation,” remarks Usman Nabi, Six Flags executive
chairman and a senior partner at H Partners. “As past investors in Dade Behring, we understand the value Jim delivers to shareholders, and the board is confident that he will repeat this success at Six Flags.” “I’d like to acknowledge the tremendous work of Al
Weber," Nabi continues, "who has served as interim CEO over the last three months. Under Al’s leadership, we’ve streamlined our operations and re-focused our organisation on our core theme park business. Al’s deep industry experience will complement Jim’s capabilities.” Weber now becomes the new chief operating officer of Six Flags, while Nabi will continue to serve as a director and a member of the executive committee. With the emergence of Six Flags from bankruptcy under a settlement reached March 19, and with the new management team in place, upheaval was sure to follow. It has, as new park presidents have been named at four of the group’s parks. John Fitzgerald is the new president at Six Flags Great Adventure in Jackson, New Jersey, replacing Mark Kane. A 28-year veteran of the amusement park industry, Fitzgerald’s experience includes senior roles at Warner Bros Movie World in Germany (now Movie Park), Terra Mitica in Spain and Freestyle Music Park in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. Most recently he was managing partner of Catchment Attraction Management and Consulting Services. Over at Six Flags Magic Mountain in Valencia, California, Bonnie Rabjohn is the new park president. She succeeds Jay Thomas, who is joining the Six Flags corporate team in Dallas. Rabjohn was most recently director of worldwide marketing for Warner Bros Consumer Products division but is no stranger to Magic Mountain,
New Magic
Mountain president Bonnie Rabjohn
New Great Adventure president John Fitzgerald
New Discovery Kingdom Dale Kaetzel
having previously served with Six Flags for over 25 years. Dale Kaetzel is the new president at Six Flags Discovery Kingdom, Vallejo, California, succeeding Eric Gilbert. Kaetzel has served as a senior executive at four of the five former Paramount parks in North America, as well as a brief spell at the ill-fated Hard Rock Park (which became Freestyle Music Park). Along with Fitzgerald, he was a managing partner of Catchment Attraction Management and Consulting Services. At Six Flags New England in
Agawam, Massachusetts, Jason Freeman replaces Larry Litton as interim park president Freeman has over 25 years of experience in the theme park industry, most recently as Six Flags' corporate director of safety and risk management.
Parques Reunidos owner sells up
The private equity fund Candover is to wind itself up and return cash to investors, according to reports in the British press. The owner of attractions operators Parques Reunidos and Bourne Leisure also counts Butlins holiday camps, the Gala Coral gambling group and the luxury yacht manufacturer Ferretti among its assets. Candover chief executive Malcolm Fallen has insisted there will be no “fire sale” of assets, although it is believed to be in talks to sell Parques Reunidos, which added Movie Park in Germany to its portfolio this summer.
IAAPA appoints Asia-Pacific director
The International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions (IAAPA) has announced Andrew Lee will be the executive director of its new office for the Asia Pacific, starting September 16 and working out of Hong Kong. A veteran of the travel and hospitality industry Lee served most recently as a director of a joint alliance between AsiaWorld-Expo, Global Sources and Pico Global Services.. At IAAPA he will oversee government relations, communications, membership development, education and the annual Asian Attractions Expo trade show.
Jason Freeman, new president of Six Flags New England
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SEPTEMBER 2010
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