Six Flags Completes New Senior Executive Team
January 18 2006 - 8:00AM
PR Newswire (US)
Company Names New CFO, EVPs of Corporate Alliances, In-Park
Services and Regional Park Development NEW YORK, Jan. 18
/PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Six Flags (NYSE:PKS) announced today that
it has appointed several executives to leadership positions within
the company, completing its new senior management team. These
executives will lead the company's financial, corporate
relationship and park services divisions. "Six Flags has been in
the process of assembling a dynamic leadership team, and this group
of seasoned executives, added to the team already in place, will
provide the wide range of experience that is key to moving the
company forward on both the financial and customer experience
levels," said Mark Shapiro, Six Flags President and CEO. Jeffrey
Speed is named Six Flags' Executive Vice President and Chief
Financial Officer. Speed comes to Six Flags with a broad-based
financial background as well as significant experience in the theme
park environment. He has served since 2003 as Senior Vice President
and Chief Financial Officer of Euro Disney S.A.S, where he was a
key contributor to the development of the company's long-term
growth strategy in addition to overseeing its 1.7 billion euro
legal and financial restructuring. During his tenure at Euro
Disney, Speed oversaw a reduction in debt of approximately 500
million euros (from over 2.4 billion to less than 2 billion euros)
and raised significant capital for liquidity and new attractions.
Prior to Euro Disney, Speed served as Vice President, Corporate
Finance and Assistant Treasurer for The Walt Disney Company, where
he was responsible for worldwide capital markets activities,
structured and project finance initiatives including Euro Disney
and Hong Kong Disneyland, syndication of revolving credit
facilities, and Disney's overall banking and rating agency
relationships. Speed will report directly to the CEO effective
February 1, 2006, replacing James Dannhauser, who had previously
agreed to stay until April 1, 2006. Lou Koskovolis is named Six
Flags' Executive Vice President of Corporate Alliances, a new
division within the company. Koskovolis will develop key national,
regional and local sponsorships for all Six Flags parks, creating
cross-promotional platforms that will enable Six Flags partners to
showcase their products and services while providing Six Flags with
added exposure through partners' advertising and marketing assets.
Koskovolis is formerly Executive Vice President of Multi-Media
Sales for ESPN and ABC Sports in addition to serving in leadership
roles in the company's National Television Sales and Customer
Marketing organizations. Koskovolis will also report to Shapiro.
Andrew Schleimer is named Six Flags' Executive Vice President for
In-Park Services, a new division that will focus on increasing
company revenue and enhancing the park experience through
agreements with branded food, beverage, equipment, service and
retail partners. Schleimer, an investment banker specializing in
mergers and acquisitions, joins Six Flags from UBS Investment Bank,
where he served as Vice President in the bank's Mergers &
Acquisition Department. At UBS, Schleimer advised on over $150
billion of transactions in the media and entertainment, technology,
telecom and consumer products sectors. He attended Cornell
University's School of Hotel Administration where he focused on
food and beverage management and real estate finance. "This group
brings invaluable skills and experience to our executive team, from
theme parks to finance, cross-platform advertising opportunities
and overall park services," said Shapiro. "With our entire team in
place, we're on track to unlock Six Flags' value for all our
audiences -- our partners, investors, employees and most
importantly, our guests -- 35 million people and growing who spend
over 9 hours a day in our parks. On behalf of the company, I want
to welcome the new team and extend our most sincere appreciation to
Jim Dannhauser, who continues to provide us with invaluable counsel
during this transition period." Six Flags is the world's largest
regional theme park company. First Call Analyst: FCMN Contact:
DATASOURCE: Six Flags CONTACT: Wendy Goldberg of Six Flags,
+1-917-714-9797 Web site: http://www.sixflags.com/
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