Great Wolf Resorts on Friday named Ruben Rodriguez its next chief executive officer, effective September 22. Current CEO Kimberly Schaefer will become chief brand officer through the end of this year and will transition to the company’s board in early 2016.
The news comes less than five months after the company changed hands when Apollo Global Management sold the Madison, Wisconsin-based indoor waterpark company for a reported US$1.35 billion to New York investment firm Centerbridge Partners.
Rodriguez, 52, most recently served as executive vice president of ship operations for Carnival Cruise Line, leading hospitality operations, onboard revenues, marine operations and shared services across 24 cruise ships. Prior to joining Carnival, Rodriguez was a partner and managing director at The Boston Consulting Group and held senior roles at The Charles Schwab Corp. and eToys.
“Ruben’s varied experiences, including most recently at Carnival Cruise Line, will be tremendously valuable as Great Wolf Resorts enters the next phase of its growth strategy and expands its footprint to new markets,” said William Rahm, a senior managing director with Centerbridge Partners.