SeaWorld that Jim Atchison, the company鈥檚 chief executive since 2009, will step down from his post.
The move comes amid a plummet in SeaWorld鈥檚 revenue and attendance, and as the company fields a volley of public criticism for its treatment of killer whales, which was underscored in the 2013 documentary 鈥淏lackfish.鈥 in August, dropping 33 percent, and has since declined further, to about $15 per share. Attendance “fell 5.6 percent to 8.4 million in the third quarter from 8.9 million in the same period a year ago,” .听
Atchison will receive a $2.4 million payout and take a position as vice chairman, . He will also serve as a consultant and advise the company on its international expansion plans and conservation initiatives. Chairman David D鈥橝lessandro will serve as interim CEO until a replacement for Atchison is found.
The company is working to save $50 million in costs by the end of 2015. As part of that initiative, the company has announced a 鈥渞estructuring program鈥 across its 11 theme parks that 鈥渨ill results in the loss of some positions.鈥 SeaWorld employs about 25,800 workers.