ORLANDO, Fla., Sept. 13, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- SeaWorld
Entertainment, Inc. (NYSE: SEAS) ("SeaWorld"), a leading theme park
and entertainment company, today announced that its Board of
Directors (the "Board") has elected Yoshikazu Maruyama as Chairman, succeeding David
F. D'Alessandro effective October 9,
2017. The company has also elected Donald C. Robinson as Lead Independent Director,
effective October 9,
2017.
"I am honored to succeed David and want to express my deepest
appreciation to him for his years of dedication to SeaWorld," Mr.
Maruyama said. "I am excited to bring a fresh perspective to the
Board and deeply committed to working with the management team to
deliver memorable guest experiences, extend SeaWorld's iconic
brands to global audiences, improve business performance, and
enhance value for shareholders and all our important
stakeholders."
Mr. Maruyama, a SeaWorld director since June 2017, is President of Zhonghong Group's
American operation and represents the perspective of a significant,
long-term shareholder. He brings over 20 years of global theme park
and family entertainment industry experience and helped to lead the
early turnaround of Universal Studios Japan, which was recently
acquired by Comcast NBCUniversal.
Mr. Robinson, a SeaWorld Director since June 2016, was formerly the Executive Vice
President of Hong Kong Disneyland. He has extensive operations
expertise, as well as over thirty years of executive and management
positions in global theme park, retail, restaurant, resort, and
entertainment businesses.
"Our Board is committed to continuing to advance its governance
standards and independence, and we believe that by establishing
these two complementary roles with clear responsibilities, we can
enhance the rigorous and independent oversight of the company and
the Board," Mr. Robinson said. "Yoshi and I intend to work closely
with the other directors and the management team to advance the
company's progress on behalf of all its shareholders and other
stakeholders."
"This transition demonstrates our dedication to ensure
SeaWorld's long-term success and growth for the interests of its
shareholders and our commitment to a sustainable future," Mr. D'
Alessandro said. "Yoshi brings the perspective of our largest
shareholder. He also has over 20 years of experience in the global
theme park industry and helped drive the turnaround of a leading
theme park company, creating significant value for its
stakeholders. Our company and our Board will benefit from his
leadership."
The company also announced that Mr. D'Alessandro, Judith A. McHale, and Ellen O. Tauscher will step down from the Board
of Directors, effective October 9,
2017.
"The Board thanks David, Judith, and Ellen for their many
contributions to SeaWorld," Mr. Maruyama added.
Brief Biography for Yoshikazu
Maruyama
Yoshikazu
Maruyama recently joined the Zhonghong Group, a leading real
estate development and diversified leisure and tourism company in
Asia. Prior to that, Mr. Maruyama
was Global Head of Location Based Entertainment for DreamWorks
Animation SKG, where he served from August
2010 until March 2017. From
June 2004 to January 2009, he served as Chief Strategy Officer
and was elected to the Board of Directors of USJ Co., Ltd, owner
and operator of Universal Studios Japan theme park.
Mr. Maruyama held multiple positions at Universal Parks and
Resorts from June 1995 to
June 2004, including as Senior Vice
President of International Business Development and Vice President
of Strategic Planning. Mr. Maruyama took a hiatus from Universal
Park & Resorts to support the startup of eToys, an online toy
retailer in 1999. Mr. Maruyama also served as a Financial Analyst
at J.P. Morgan & Co. from July
1992 to June 1995.
Mr. Maruyama holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Operations
Research from Columbia University in
New York.
Brief Biography for Donald C.
Robinson
Donald C.
Robinson recently retired as the President and Chief
Operating Officer for All Aboard Florida, the country's first
privately owned intercity passenger rail system that will connect
South Florida to Orlando, where he served from March 2012 until December
2014. Prior to this, from February
2006 to September 2012, he
served as President of Baha Mar Ltd., a luxury resort company.
Previously, Mr. Robinson served in various capacities for The
Walt Disney Company from June 1972 to
January 2006, including as Group
Managing Director and Executive Vice President of Hong Kong
Disneyland from 2001 to 2006, as Senior Vice President of
Operations at Walt Disney World Operations from 1998 to 2001, as
Senior Vice President/Vice President of Walt Disney World Resorts
from 1995 to 1998, and as Opening General Manager of Disney's
All-Star Resorts, Walt Disney World,
from 1993 to 1995. Mr. Robinson held additional roles of increasing
responsibility within The Walt Disney Company from 1987 to 1993.
Mr. Robinson is Chairman of the Corporate Governance and Nominating
Committee of the Board of Directors of Denny's Corporation, a
casual restaurant business for which he has served as a director
since March 2008. He also serves on a
local advisory board of BB&T Corporation in Orlando, Florida.
Mr. Robinson holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Microbiology
from the University of Central Florida,
and completed coursework through the Master's in Business
Administration program at Rollins
College.
About SeaWorld Entertainment, Inc.
SeaWorld
Entertainment, Inc. (NYSE: SEAS) is a leading theme park and
entertainment company providing experiences that matter, and
inspiring guests to protect animals and the wild wonders of our
world. The company is one of the world's foremost zoological
organizations and a global leader in animal welfare, training,
husbandry, and veterinary care. The company collectively cares for
what it believes is one of the largest zoological collections in
the world and has helped lead advances in the care of animals. The
company also rescues and rehabilitates marine and terrestrial
animals that are ill, injured, orphaned, or abandoned, with the
goal of returning them to the wild.
The SeaWorld® rescue team has helped more than
30,000 animals in need over the last 50 years.
SeaWorld Entertainment, Inc. owns or licenses a portfolio
of recognized brands including SeaWorld, Busch Gardens®,
and Sea Rescue®. Over its more than 50-year history, the
company has built a diversified portfolio of 12 destination and
regional theme parks that are grouped in key markets
across the United States,
many of which showcase its one-of-a-kind zoological collection. The
company's theme parks feature a diverse array of rides, shows, and
other attractions with broad demographic appeal which deliver
memorable experiences and a strong value proposition for its
guests.
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SOURCE SeaWorld Entertainment, Inc.