The former general manager of Kings Dominion was named president of the theme park???s parent company, Cedar Fair Entertainment Co., on Thursday afternoon.
Richard A. Zimmerman continues as Cedar Fair???s chief operating officer, a position he has held since October 2011.
He replaces Matt Ouimet, who remains as chief executive officer of the Sandusky, Ohio-based Cedar Fair.
???This promotion is an acknowledgement of the significant role Richard has played in the success of Cedar Fair,??? Ouimet said in a statement. ???He is one of the most talented senior executives I have ever worked with. His deep understanding of the industry, our operations and our business model has enabled him to positively impact every meaningful decision we have made over the past five years.
Zimmerman will be responsible for overseeing operations at Cedar Fair???s 11 amusement parks, including Cedar Point and Kings Island in Ohio; two outdoor water parks; one indoor water park and five hotels.
???His role as president and chief operating officer will be to bridge strategy into execution ??? sorting to the things that will have the biggest operational impact and turning good ideas into operational reality,??? Ouimet said.
Zimmerman has 30 years of experience in the amusement-park industry.
He was vice president and general manager at Kings Dominion from 1998 until 2007, when he was named a regional vice president for Cedar Fair. He became executive vice president in October 2010 and chief operating officer a year later.
Cedar Fair bought Kings Dominion in June 2006.
Before joining Kings Dominion, Zimmerman held several roles with Paramount Parks Inc., which previously owned the park, and with Paramount Communications Inc., including being vice president of financial planning and analysis for Paramount???s Madison Square Garden division.
Richard A. Zimmerman continues as Cedar Fair???s chief operating officer, a position he has held since October 2011.
He replaces Matt Ouimet, who remains as chief executive officer of the Sandusky, Ohio-based Cedar Fair.
???This promotion is an acknowledgement of the significant role Richard has played in the success of Cedar Fair,??? Ouimet said in a statement. ???He is one of the most talented senior executives I have ever worked with. His deep understanding of the industry, our operations and our business model has enabled him to positively impact every meaningful decision we have made over the past five years.
Zimmerman will be responsible for overseeing operations at Cedar Fair???s 11 amusement parks, including Cedar Point and Kings Island in Ohio; two outdoor water parks; one indoor water park and five hotels.
???His role as president and chief operating officer will be to bridge strategy into execution ??? sorting to the things that will have the biggest operational impact and turning good ideas into operational reality,??? Ouimet said.
Zimmerman has 30 years of experience in the amusement-park industry.
He was vice president and general manager at Kings Dominion from 1998 until 2007, when he was named a regional vice president for Cedar Fair. He became executive vice president in October 2010 and chief operating officer a year later.
Cedar Fair bought Kings Dominion in June 2006.
Before joining Kings Dominion, Zimmerman held several roles with Paramount Parks Inc., which previously owned the park, and with Paramount Communications Inc., including being vice president of financial planning and analysis for Paramount???s Madison Square Garden division.
Source: Richmond Times