SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment Names New Chief Operating Officer

ORLANDO, Fla., Oct. 12 /PRNewswire/ -- SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment today promoted Daniel B. Brown, President of the company's three Orlando parks – SeaWorld Orlando, Discovery Cove and Aquatica -- to Chief Operating Officer, SeaWorld Parks.

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Brown, 56, will oversee the operations of SeaWorld parks in Florida, Texas, and California, as well as Discovery Cove and Aquatica.  He will assume his new responsibilities later this month.  The company's remaining five parks – Busch Gardens Tampa, Busch Gardens Williamsburg, Adventure Island, Water Country USA and Sesame Place – are under the corporate supervision of Donnie Mills, Chief Operating Officer, Busch Gardens and Sesame Place.

"Dan is among the most respected and experienced executives in the theme park industry," said Jim Atchison, SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment President and Chief Executive Officer.  "His contributions to SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment span more than three decades and have benefitted every park and virtually every aspect of our business."

Brown started his career at Busch Gardens Tampa Bay in 1975.  He has occupied a variety of progressively responsible corporate and park roles.  Brown was tapped to manage the company's Tampa water park, Adventure Island, in 1984.  He relocated to St. Louis, Mo. in 1990 to oversee the company's business analysis program and serve as Executive Assistant to then-President John B. Roberts.  

Brown later was promoted to Corporate Vice President Operations and in 1999 to Park President of Busch Gardens and Water Country USA in Williamsburg, Va.  He moved to Tampa in 2003 to lead Busch Gardens and Adventure Island and to Orlando in 2007 to head the company's flagship park, SeaWorld Orlando.

Brown's replacement will be named later this week.  

SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment operates 10 parks across the U.S.:  SeaWorld Florida in Orlando, SeaWorld California in San Diego, SeaWorld Texas in San Antonio, Busch Gardens Tampa, Busch Gardens Williamsburg, Adventure Island in Tampa, Water Country USA in Williamsburg, Aquatica and Discovery Cove in Orlando, and Sesame Place in Langhorne, Pa. near Philadelphia.  SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment employs more than 20,000 people.  SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment is a portfolio company of The Blackstone Group.

SOURCE SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment