SeaWorld Entertainment, Inc. has announced the appointment of Joel Manby as President and Chief Executive Officer, previously President and Chief Executive Officer of Herschend Enterprises, with effect from April 7, 2015.
Manby, who has been with Herschend since 1998 and served as CEO since 2003, has been responsible for driving strong profit expansion with an ethos of integrity after following what he decribed as a "calling" to join HFE.
Commenting on his new role Manby said, "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. 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."
David F. D'Alessandro, SeaWorld’s interim CEO, who will become Chairman, said, " 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. 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."
