MADISON, WI—Great Wolf Resorts, Inc. has tapped Rubén Rodríguez as its next CEO, effective Sept. 22. The company’s current CEO, Kimberly Schaefer, will assume the role of chief brand officer through the end of this year and will transition to Great Wolf’s board in early 2016.
Rodríguez, 52, has broad experience across several leading hospitality and consumer focused companies, most recently serving as EVP, ship operations for Carnival Cruise Line. At Carnival, he led hospitality operations, onboard revenues, marine operations and shared services across 24 cruise ships carrying approximately five million guests per year, according to the company. In his previous role at Carnival, Rodríguez led key commercial functions, including marketing, revenue management, ship deployment, product development and public relations. Prior to joining Carnival, Rodríguez was a partner and managing director at The Boston Consulting Group, and held senior roles at The Charles Schwab Corporation and eToys. He earned his engineering degrees from Princeton University and University of California at Berkeley, and his MBA from Stanford University.
Schaefer said, “Great Wolf Resorts has been such an important part of my life for 18 years. I have watched the business grow from one lodge to 12 and feel so much pride in thinking of all the opportunities I have had to contribute to what it is today. I am excited that Rubén will join us as the CEO and bring a unique perspective to our leading family entertainment brand. I look forward to being involved in the next phase of Great Wolf’s growth.”
Regarding his new role, Rodríguez said, “I am impressed by the great brand and compelling business model that Great Wolf has built under Kim’s leadership. As the leader in indoor water park resorts, Great Wolf has excelled in creating special and memorable experiences at each lodge. I am eager to work with the management team to continue building and growing the Great Wolf brand, and to delight thousands of guests each year.”
William D. Rahm, a senior managing director with Great Wolf’s majority owner, Centerbridge Partners, L.P., said “I am delighted with Rubén’s appointment as CEO. Ruben is an outstanding leader and brings a track record of delivering exceptional value to consumers. Rubén’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. I’d like to thank Kim for her extraordinary service to our company. During her tenure, Kim developed Great Wolf Resorts into a leading hospitality business and a nationally recognized family brand.”