Six Flags names new President/CEO

August 13, 2010, 7:30 AM · Six Flags announced today that it has hired James Reid-Anderson as the company's new Chairman, CEO and President, effective immediately. He replaces interim CEO Al Weber, the former Paramount Parks executive, who served for six months following the sacking of Six Flags' previous management team, led by Dan Snyder and Mark Shapiro.

If you go way back on TPI, you know that Snyder, widely known as the owner of the Washington NFL franchise, took control of Six Flags back in 2005, after the former Premier Parks management nearly sank the company by amassing too much debt during and immediately after its takeover of the chain from Time Warner.

Like Snyder and Shapiro, Reid-Anderson has no experience in the theme or amusement park industry, having worked as CEO of the Siemens AG Healthcare Diagnostics Division. (So, I suppose, if you get hurt at a Six Flags park, the company will now be able to find even more creative ways to bill your insurance company?)

Here's the first quote from the press release:

"Jim is an exceptional CEO, and he brings to Six Flags an outstanding track record of shareholder value creation," said Usman Nabi, Executive Chairman of the Board of Six Flags and 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."

Notice anything missing there? Like, well, you, the park visitor?

Replies (2)

August 13, 2010 at 8:17 AM · Don't get cynical Robert! Four the last six months the buzz among the theme park guys I know is that "shareholder value creation" is gonna be like the next Harry Potter!

I'd stand in a Florida queue, with no shade, in the middle of July standing among conventioneers attending the annual meeting of the People Who Abstain From Deodorant Association, in order to experience the thrills of "shareholder value creation."

August 13, 2010 at 8:18 AM · Oops! Forgot to log in.

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