SeaWorld Selects Two Directors
April 15 2016 - 9:00AM
Dow Jones News
SeaWorld Entertainment Inc. said Friday that it named a new
independent director to its board and nominated another, adding two
theme park industry veterans to the company as it seeks to revamp
its business amid sliding attendance.
Ron Bension, the president of House of Blues Entertainment at
Live Nation and former chairman and chief executive of
MCA/Universal Studios Recreation Group, was named independent
director on the board, the company said. The move comes as Jim
Atchison decided to step down as a director, though he will remain
a consultant to the company. SeaWorld said Mr. Bension, 61 years
old, was responsible for all aspects of Universal Studios Hollywood
and Universal Studios Florida in addition to developing
international theme park joint ventures.
The company also nominated Donald C. Robinson, former executive
vice president of Hong Kong Disneyland, for election at the June
shareholders meeting to succeed Joe Baratta, global head of private
equity at Blackstone. Mr. Baratta previously said he would retire
from the board upon the election of his successor.
SeaWorld Chief Executive Joel Manby previously said there was "a
ton of pressure" on the company following heavy public scrutiny
regarding the treatment of killer whales in captivity. SeaWorld
last month said it would stop breeding orcas and cease its
theatrical shows featuring them, a dramatic shift as attendance at
its theme parks slid 7.9% from 2012 to 2015.
SeaWorld Chairman David F. D'Alessandro said Friday that the
board moves, "together with enhancements to our governance
practices, is consistent with our priorities and reflects
constructive input from our shareholders."
The company's stock, up 22% in the past three months, was
unchanged premarket.
Write to Joshua Jamerson at joshua.jamerson@wsj.com
(END) Dow Jones Newswires
April 15, 2016 08:45 ET (12:45 GMT)
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