KidZania Expands Executive Ranks With New Chief Experience Officer and VP Global Business

SAN JOSE, Calif., Oct. 5, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- KidZania, the global leader in children's location-based edutainment, announces the appointment of Mark Snell to the newly created position of Chief Experience Officer, and Philip Sandhaus to the new position of Vice President, Global Business. These new hires bring a wealth of experience in entertainment, creative strategy, and global brand management to guide KidZania as the company prepares to launch a completely new park experience in Mexico and expand into several new territories, including the U.S.

As Chief Experience Officer, Snell leads KidZania's "Ministry of Culture" focused on creating superior guest experiences through entertaining and engaging content, themes, architecture, programming, and operations. As Vice President, Global Business, Sandhaus is focused on identifying the best new global expansion markets for KidZania, from analyzing and securing new locations to negotiating with prospective franchise partners.

"At KidZania, we have two important goals: to always provide a rich and engaging experience for our young visitors and to ensure that experience is available to more children around the world," says Xavier Lopez Ancona, President, KidZania.  "The creative energy and expertise Mark brings to KidZania will provide children with an unrivaled experience that combines both fun and learning. With Philip's extensive career in international business development for global entertainment brands, he provides a unique perspective on matching KidZania with the best markets and business partners."

Snell brings a wealth of experience managing and leading world-class creative solutions, through creative planning, direction, and design for some of the largest global brands. Prior to joining KidZania, Snell co-founded and served as Chief Experience Officer for Carbonated Creative, a creative design and marketing agency. He also served as Chief Creative Director and Marketing Director for the educational software and solutions company, Six Red Marbles, and as Vice President, Senior Creative Director for leading marketing agency, Jack Morton Worldwide. He's also held a number of design and creative positions with top architecture and design firms. Snell holds a Master of Fine Arts degree in Design from Virginia Commonwealth University and a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Design from Auburn University.  He is a Professional Affiliate of the AIA, Boston Society of Architects and a member of the Association of Briefing Program Managers. Snell is based in the KidZania Mexico headquarters.

From entertainment to consumer goods to sports, Sandhaus has had an extensive career managing, marketing and building trusted global brands.  Most recently, he served as a business development consultant for Frank Sinatra Enterprises and Membrain, where he drove business development and marketing strategies for clients such as McDonalds and Hasbro. He has an extensive background in the music industry, including serving as a strategic marketing consultant for the Beatles' Apple Corps and Capitol-EMI Records on the re-mastered catalogue and MTV Rock Band Video game, and as a senior partner on the management team for the Rolling Stones' Forty Licks CD launch, directing the strategic partnerships with major media and sports brands.  Prior to that, he served as head of Strategic Marketing for EMI-Capitol Entertainment group, as manager of David Bowie's creative affairs at Isolar Management, and as head of product marketing at Columbia/CBS Records marketing and developing artists such as Bob Dylan, Miles Davis and Elvis Costello.  He has a business degree from Cornell University.  Sandhaus is based in Los Angeles.

About KidZania:

Much more than a children's museum or theme park, KidZania takes interactive entertainment and learning to an entirely new level by combining role playing with real life in a kid-sized environment. KidZania creates a kid-centric city experience for 4- to 14-year olds. From arriving at the airport, to visiting a city center to exploring the city streets complete with vehicles and real-world establishments, kids experience the real world in a safe and contained 75,000 square foot kid-sized city. At KidZania, kids are in control and choose a "real world" job, earn and manage "kidZo" currency, and purchase goods and services.

KidZania, Inc., headquartered in Mexico, is privately held. This award-winning concept is recognized globally for its unique blend of entertainment and education for children. The first KidZania opened in Mexico City in 1999.  There are seven other locations including, Monterrey, Mexico; Tokyo; Jakarta; Osaka; Lisbon; Dubai; and Seoul. To date, more than 18 million kids and parents have visited the parks globally. The trajectory continues with 13 parks in development, including a new park in Mexico City where kids can drive from point-to-point. KidZania will come to the U.S. in 2013.

For more information about KidZania and the park locations, visit www.KidZania.com.

SOURCE KidZania