Six Flags Announces Leadership Changes & Q1 2026 Results

(eap) Yesterday, operating group Six Flags Entertainment Corporation announced several changes at executive level. According to the company, the personnel decisions are linked to the ongoing integration following the merger with Cedar Fair as well as to the stated priorities for increasing the company’s value. At the same time, they are intended to strengthen the company’s expertise in the areas of commercial, marketing, legal and compliance, and finance.

Amy Martin Ziegenfuss © Photo: Courtesy of Six Flags

As of 3 June 2026, Amy Martin Ziegenfuss (pictured) will join Six Flags as Chief Marketing Officer. She succeeds Christian Dieckmann, who has already left the company on 2 May. Ziegenfuss joins from Carnival Cruise Line, where she most recently also served as Chief Marketing Officer.

Also as of 3 June, Christopher Bennett (pictured) will take over the position of Chief Legal and Compliance Officer. He succeeds Brian Nurse, who will leave Six Flags on 8 May. Bennett is a partner of the international law firm Dentons and has more than 25 years of experience in legal advisory work for the hospitality and leisure industry. Previously, he held senior legal positions at Interstate Hotels & Resorts and MeriStar Hospitality, among others.

There will also be a change in the finance division: Brian Witherow will step down as Chief Financial Officer on 8 May. According to the company, the succession process is already at an advanced stage. Until the position is permanently filled, Dave Hoffman, Chief Accounting Officer at Six Flags, will assume the role of Interim Finance Lead on a transitional basis.

Christopher Bennett © Photo: Courtesy of Six Flags

In addition, Six Flags announced that it would divide the previous responsibilities of the Chief Commercial Officer into two separate positions. Alongside the new position of Chief Marketing Officer, Chris Meyering, previously VP Revenue Management at Six Flags, will be promoted to SVP Commercial as of 3 June. Meyering has held various operational management roles at Six Flags since 2021 and previously worked for The Walt Disney Company.

Six Flags also presented its results for the first quarter of 2026 yesterday, which is traditionally regarded as a rather challenging period due to seasonal park closures. Nevertheless, Six Flags CEO John Reilly summed up the results positively: “We delivered meaningful year-over-year improvement in the first quarter driven by higher attendance, increased guest spending, and disciplined execution.” He continued, “Despite the seasonally low first quarter operating profile of our business, these results demonstrate the resiliency of our operating model and the progress we are making executing against our strategic priorities. Although it is still early in the season, demand trends in the second quarter are encouraging. […].”

For the first quarter 2026, which ended on 29 March 2026, Six Flags reported the following key figures compared with the prior-year period:

• Net revenues increased by 12 % to USD 225.6 million;
• Attendance rose by 4 % to 2.9 million visits;
• Per capita spending grew by 6 % to USD 69.26. This was attributed to effective ticket pricing initiatives, an improved ticket mix, and higher guest spending on food and beverages;
• The net loss attributable to Six Flags Entertainment Corporation was reported at USD 269 million, as compared to a loss of USD 220 million;
• Adjusted EBITDA loss was USD 123 million, which represented a USD 48 million improvement from USD 171 million. ■