SeaWorld Names CFO and Chief Creative Officer

SeaWorld Entertainment Inc. said it appointed two theme park industry veterans to leadership roles, in the latest management shifts at the amusement park operator.

The company's board appointed Peter J. Crage as the theme-park operator's chief financial officer starting next month.

Anthony Esparza also was selected as SeaWorld's chief creative officer. SeaWorld said current chief creative officer, Scott Helmstedter is returning to his home state of California and will continue his work with the company as a consultant.

SeaWorld, which has been hurt by negative publicity about its killer whales, earlier this year began an advertising campaign to counter "misinformation" and highlight the company's commitment to killer whale care and research.

The Orlando, Fla., company has battled with animal-rights activists, who say that training and publicly presenting killer whales is inherently cruel. The documentary "Blackfish" raised these criticisms to a higher level of public awareness, harming the company's financial results.

Mr. Crage succeeds James M. Heaney, who left SeaWorld to return to the cruise industry. Mr. Heaney a former finance chief of Disney Cruise Line, had been the chief financial officer at SeaWorld since 2012.

Mr. Crage, 53 years old, most recently was chief financial officer at Extended Stay America Inc. His previous experience includes serving as finance chief at amusement-park operator Cedar Fair LP.

Mr. Esparza, 54, most recently served as a senior vice president for guest experiences, design and development at family-owned theme park and entertainment company Herschend Enterprises.

Marc Swanson, who had been serving as interim finance chief, will continue to serve as chief accounting officer next month.

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(END) Dow Jones Newswires

August 17, 2015 17:25 ET (21:25 GMT)

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