IAAPA: New Members of Board of Directors to Begin Terms in 2027
Photo: Courtesy of IAAPA
(eap) The International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions (IAAPA) has elected six new members to its global Board of Directors, with their terms set to begin in 2027. Working closely with the IAAPA team, the Board defines the association’s strategic priorities, oversees its annual business plan and finances, and provides guidance on products and services. At the same time, its members represent the interests of IAAPA’s global membership.
The candidates were selected by the IAAPA Governance Committee based on criteria including professional expertise, leadership experience and volunteer engagement. “The Governance Committee is committed to identifying leaders who represent the diversity, expertise, and innovation found throughout our global membership,“ said IAAPA Governance Committee Chair Freddi Massimiliano. “This year’s board members bring exceptional experience from across the attractions industry and will help guide IAAPA as we continue to serve our members around the world.“
Newly elected to the Board are Denise Beckson, ICAE (Second Vice Chair), Mario Centola (Facility Director), Mike Denninger (North America Regional Advisory Board Chair Director), Lena Wei Na Lee (Facility Director) and Amanda Thompson OBE (Europe, Sub-Saharan South Africa Regional Advisory Board Chair Director).
Denise Beckson brings more than 25 years of leadership experience and volunteer engagement with IAAPA. She currently chairs IAAPA’s North America Regional Advisory Board and has previously held roles in areas including finance, governance and strategic planning. Beckson has worked for the family-owned Morey’s Piers amusement park in Wildwood, New Jersey, for more than 30 years and has served as Vice President and Chief Administrative & External Affairs Officer since 2019.
Mario Centola has also been involved in various IAAPA committees and boards for many years. He currently serves on the North America Regional Advisory Board and previously contributed to the Investment and Finance Committee as well as the Information Technology Committee. He also supports IAAPA’s “Leadership Essentials” programme as a finance expert. Centola currently serves as EVP & COO International Operations at CEC Entertainment, having previously held various leadership positions at Six Flags for around two decades.
Mike Denninger will take over as Chair of the North America Regional Advisory Board. An engineer by background, he has more than 36 years of experience in the attractions industry and has been actively involved with IAAPA for over two decades. Among other roles, he chaired IAAPA’s North America Safety Committee and served on both the North America Regional Advisory Board and the association’s Global Safety Committee. Denninger is the founder and owner of consultancy firm Denninger Development.
Patrick Finnegan is Senior Vice President of Operations at Disneyland Resort and currently also serves on IAAPA’s North America Regional Advisory Board. In his new role, he is expected to contribute his extensive operational experience and industry network to the work of the global Board.
Representing the Asia-Pacific region, Lena Wei Na Lee will also join the Board. As Executive Vice President, Attractions and Destination Experience at Resorts World Sentosa in Singapore, she oversees key areas of the attraction and destination experience. Lee previously held leadership positions at Universal Destinations & Experiences in Japan. Within IAAPA, she is actively involved in “IAAPA Presents” programmes and regularly speaks on innovation and leadership.
Amanda Thompson OBE, CEO of the UK’s Pleasure Beach Resort, will take over as Chair of the Europe and Sub-Saharan Africa Regional Advisory Board. She has volunteered in leadership roles with IAAPA for more than 35 years and previously served as Chair of the global IAAPA Board, guiding the association through the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic. Thompson has also served on several key IAAPA committees, including those responsible for governance, finance and the CEO search process.
While Beckson will serve in the role of Second Vice Chair until 2030, the other five newly elected members will hold their respective positions until 2029. The new Board members were elected in London, where the show floor of IAAPA Expo Europe 2026 will open tomorrow, Tuesday, 22 September.
The EAP team is also on site and looks forward to welcoming you at Stand #S1700. ■
