Scott Ross, Founder and Managing Partner of Hill Path Capital and SeaWorld Entertainment, Inc.’s Chairman of the Board of Directors, shared news that Timothy Hartnett and Kimberly Schaefer will join the Board of Directors. Mr. Hartnett and Mrs. Schaefer will be joining eight other members to bring the total size of the Board of Directors to 10. SeaWorld’s Management Team is led by interim CEO Marc Swanson, and its Board is led by Chairman of the Board of Directors, Scott Ross. Appointed to SeaWorld Entertainment, Inc.’s Board of Directors in 2017, Mr. Ross was elected as Chairman of the Board of Directors of SeaWorld Entertainment Inc. in 2019.
Scott Ross is the Founder and Managing Partner of Hill Path Capital LP, which he founded in 2015. Previously, Mr. Ross served as a Partner at Apollo Global Management, where he was responsible for leading private equity and debt investments in the lodging, leisure, entertainment, consumer, and business services sectors. Prior to joining Apollo Management, Mr. Ross worked in various investment roles at Goldman, Sachs & Co. Mr. Ross previously served as a Director of Great Wolf Resorts, Inc., CEC Entertainment, Inc. (parent company of Chuck E. Cheese’s), and EVERTEC, Inc.
The two newest Board Members bring a plethora of wisdom and experience with them into these appointments. Managing Partner and Founder of Hill Path Capital and SeaWorld’s Chairman of the Board of Directors, Scott Ross, shared in early December, “We are pleased to welcome Tim and Kim to the Company’s Board. Tim brings significant experience working with companies across industry sectors and brings unique skills, particularly in finance and accounting,” going on to add, “Kim has significant experience in the leisure, hospitality, and entertainment sectors and brings unique skills, particularly in operations and marketing. We are very fortunate to have Tim and Kim on our Board and look forward to their contributions.”
Timothy Hartnett, a Certified Public Accountant, holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting from Boston College, and an MBA in Finance from Columbia Business School. Mr. Hartnett served as Chief Executive Officer of New Roc Management, and is currently the Chief Executive Officer of White Fall Advisors.
Kimberly Schaefer is the former President of Two Bit Circus, Inc. and Chief Executive Officer and Director of Great Wild Resorts, Inc. Mrs. Schaefer is a Certified Public Account, with a Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting from Edgewood College. Mrs. Schaefer served on the Board of the Hall of Fame Resort & Entertainment Company, and the Board of Education Realty Trust.
In the coming year, SeaWorld Entertainment looks forward to continued growth opportunities. The first SeaWorld to open in more than 30 years is scheduled for a grand opening in the capital of the United Arab Emirates, Abu Dhabi, in late 2022. The park is about 40 percent of the way to completion, with COVID-19 precautions and regulations slowing down production.
“We are thrilled SeaWorld will be a part of this special place, which will further expand our vitally important marine life research, rescue, conservation and education efforts in the region,” reported Scott Ross, the Founder and Managing Partner of Hill Path Capital and the Chairman of the Board of Directors of SeaWorld Entertainment, Inc.
In addition to providing entertainment for guests, SeaWorld parks represent the importance of protecting the environment, rehabilitating and releasing sea life, and helping endangered species. SeaWorld rescues and rehabilitates marine and terrestrial animals that are ill, injured, orphaned, or abandoned, intending to return them to the wild.
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