CEC Entertainment, Inc. announced that, effective immediately, its Board of Directors has appointed David McKillips as Chief Executive Officer, replacing Tom Leverton who has resigned as CEO.
McKillips has more than 25 years of experience in the family entertainment, media and theme park industries. Most recently, he was president of the International Development Company for Six Flags Entertainment Corporation, responsible for the operational management of all properties outside the United States. In addition, McKillips served as Six Flags Senior Vice president, In-Park Services, leading the food & beverage, retail, games and procurement functions across all U.S. Six Flags parks. Prior to joining Six Flags, he served as Vice President of Advertising & Custom Publishing Sales for DC Comics, a division of Warner Bros. Entertainment and home to some of the world’s most iconic brands. McKillips has also held multiple leadership roles within Sea World Entertainment and Sesame Place. McKillips holds a B.A. degree in Communication Studies from the University of Georgia and received post-graduate certificates in Marketing and Finance from New York University.
“On behalf of the Board of Directors, I am excited to welcome David to the CEC team,” says Andrew S. Jhawar, Chairman of the Board at CEC and Senior Partner and Head of the Consumer & Retail Industry Team at Apollo Global Management, Inc. “David is a proven executive with a lifetime of experience and success in the family entertainment industry, both domestically and around the world. He has demonstrated an ability to drive revenue growth through innovation, marketing, licensing, improved operations and corporate partnerships, which are skills that make him the ideal candidate to lead CEC into its next phase of growth.”
McKillips adds, “I am thrilled to join CEC and look forward to working with the team to continue creating memorable experiences for CEC’s guests. As a national leader in family dining and entertainment, CEC is recognized for its high-quality food, fun and wholesome family entertainment. With the iconic Chuck E. Cheese and Peter Piper Pizza brands, dedicated employees and strategic partnerships, the Company is well positioned to expand and provide an even better guest experience going forward. I look forward to being part of the Company’s future success as we accelerate CEC’s growth nationally and globally. In addition, I look forward to working alongside Apollo, which has a long track record of success in building value in consumer and retail businesses.”
As of September 29, 2019, the company and its franchisees operated a system of 610 Chuck E. Cheese and 128 Peter Piper Pizza venues, with locations in 47 states and 15 foreign countries and territories.
