IAAPA, the major US-based amusement industry trade association, has a new board of directors, named during the organisation’s trade show in Paris.
At the same time, it announced that Jim Pattison Jnr will become its second vice chairman. Pattison is president of Ripley Entertainment and will serve as first chairman in 2021 and then chairman in 2022.
Ripley operates over 100 attractions in 10 countries, including aquariums, museums, haunted attractions, wax museums, sightseeing train tours, family entertainment centres, miniature golf courses, traveling shows and retail.
The 11 new board members are: Fernando Aldecoa, general manager of PortAventure Entertainment, Spain; Massimiliano Freddi, CEO at Wonderwood, Italy; Xavier Lopez Ancona, CEO of KidZania, Mexico; Tony Yuhung Sze, group senior counsellor at Chimelong Group, China; Laura Woodburn, managing director, attractions and the employee and guest experience, Hersheypark, US; Chloe James Hausfeld, director, marketing and business development at Jack Rouse Associates, US; Darrell Metzer, adjunct professor, Signature Managing University, US; Mike Seppala, CEO at Särkänniemi theme park, Finland; Ted Molter, chief marketing officer, San Diego Zoo Global, US; and the new treasurer is Curt Caffey, president of the water parks division, ProParks Management, US.
