Amid falling attendances and negative publicity that refuses to go away quietly, SeaWorld’s CEO is stepping down.
Jim Atchison will make way January 15 and will be replaced by current chairman David D’Alessandro as interim chief executive while a permanent successor is found.
That process could take several months, the company said.
Jim Atchison had served as CEO and president since 2009.
He will become vice chairman and be nominated to the board of its nonprofit conservation fund.
Theme park attendances have fallen in three of the past four quarters while the company has been battling negative publicity since the release of the ‘Blackfish’ documentary last year, which was highly critical of SeaWorld’s treatment of captive orcas.
SeaWorld also announced an unspecified number of job losses as the result of a company-wide restructuring program that will affect all 11 parks.
It aims to cut operating costs by $50 million a year by the end of 2015.
In the wake of the ‘Blackfish’ controversy, SeaWorld’s stock value has plummeted 44% this year.
