Xavier Verellen Replaces Carl Lenaerts as CEO of Plopsa Group

(eap) Xavier Verellen (60, pictured) has succeeded Carl Lenaerts as CEO of the Plopsa Group with immediate effect, the Belgian operator announced today. According to the statement, the appointment of Verellen, previously the group’s Chief Commercial Officer, marks the next step in the company’s development.

Lenaerts took over the leadership of the Plopsa Group in October 2023 and played a key role in its development and professionalization. The shareholders and Board of Directors expressly thank him for his dedication, commitment and contribution to Plopsa’s development.

“I look back on the past three years at Plopsa with great pride and satisfaction. Together with a strong and dedicated team, we have made good progress and further expanded the group. I am very grateful to everyone at Plopsa for their trust and cooperation,” says Carl Lenaerts.

“Plopsa has unique parks, strong brands and, above all, highly passionate employees. We have developed very well over the past few years, and our ambitions for the future remain high. In the period ahead, we want to further strengthen our organization and prepare it for the future so that we can pursue our next phase of growth from a strong foundation,” says Xavier Verellen.

With leadership change, the company is also announcing a restructuring under which Plopsa will operate in three clear business units based on their parks: Plopsaland Resort Belgium, Plopsaland Resort Germany, and Plopsa Midway Parks.

Studio 100 CEO Hans Bourlon and co-founder Gert Verhulst also express their full confidence in the new CEO: “In Xavier, we have chosen someone who knows Plopsa and its people well, while also bringing a fresh perspective to the organization. We are confident that, together with the management team and all employees, he will continue to develop Plopsa.” ■