Executive Team

John Reilly is president and CEO of Six Flags Entertainment Corporation and also serves as a board director. He was appointed to these roles in December 2025.

Mr. Reilly has more than three decades of experience in the amusement and recreation industry, a proven track record of leadership in high-stakes environments, and significant operational management and strategic growth expertise. 

He most recently served as CEO of Palace Entertainment U.S. and group chief operating officer at Parques Reunidos, where he was instrumental in driving profitable growth and enhancing the guest experience across the company’s properties in the U.S., Australia and Europe.  Prior to Parques Reunidos, he served as COO and interim CEO at SeaWorld Parks and Entertainment, now United Parks & Resorts Inc., where he helped deliver meaningful EBITDA growth and total shareholder returns.

Mr. Reilly earned an MBA from the University of Miami and a B.A. from William & Mary. 

Mark Pauls was appointed Six Flags COO in July 2026.  He is a disciplined operator and industry veteran with nearly five decades of experience in the entertainment industry.

Most recently, Mark served as SVP of operations at Herschend Family Entertainment, where he played a key role in the integration of Palace Entertainment’s U.S. regional amusement parks acquired in 2025 from Parques Reunidos, Palace’s parent company. Prior to the acquisition, he was VP of operations at Palace Entertainment where he oversaw operations for the company’s nationwide portfolio of parks, leading efforts to optimize efficiencies, control costs, and drive business performance.

Earlier in his career Mark held senior leadership roles including president at SeaWorld Orlando with operational oversight of the property's 6,000 employees and 4 million annual guests. He previously served as VP of operations for Busch Gardens’ Tampa and Williamsburg locations.

Mark earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration and management from the University of Phoenix.

Ash Walia was appointed Six Flags CFO in June 2026.  He is a seasoned executive with more than 20 years of financial leadership at national retail and consumer businesses and significant experience leading large scale business transformations.

Ash most recently served as CFO of private equity-owned Hot Topic.  Prior to Hot Topic, he was CFO of 99 Cents Only Stores.  At both companies, Ash built high-performing teams and developed strategic frameworks to instill financial discipline and drive profitable growth through transitional moments for the businesses.  From 2011 to 2018, he held various senior leadership roles at Starbucks Corporation across corporate finance, shared services and supply chain operations, including leading corporate finance as SVP of Corporate Finance.  Earlier in his career, Ash spent seven years in supply chain financial roles of escalating responsibility with Kellogg’s, eventually serving as VP Finance, Global Supply Chain.

Walia holds a Bachelor of Commerce degree from the University of Delhi, India.

Chris Bennett serves as the Company’s chief legal and compliance officer and secretary, having joined Six Flags in May 2026.

Previously a partner with the international law firm Dentons, Chris has more than 25 years of legal experience in the hospitality and leisure industries.  Prior to Dentons, Chris served as vice chair of Eckert Seamans Cherin & Mellott’s hospitality and gaming group and chief diversity & inclusion officer. Prior to that he was chief administrative officer, general counsel, and secretary for Interstate Hotels & Resorts (formerly NYSE: IHR), where he led the company’s legal department for 16 years overseeing all legal, human resources, international and public relations affairs.  Chris also served as general counsel and secretary of MeriStar Hospitality, a NYSE-listed hotel real estate investment trust.  While at Interstate and MeriStar, he managed public and private debt transactions, U.S. and international joint ventures, an IPO and numerous public and private M&A transactions.  All told, Chris throughout his career has managed more than $5 billion in real estate transactions and negotiated hospitality transactions across more than 40 countries in 6 continents.

Chris is a Certified Public Accountant.  He earned a B.S. in accounting and finance from Virginia Tech and a J.D. from the University of Virginia.

Amy Martin Ziegenfuss joined Six Flags in June 2026 as chief marketing officer.  As a senior marketing executive, she possesses deep experience across travel, hospitality and experiential consumer businesses.

Amy most recently served as chief marketing officer for Carnival Cruise Line where she led the modernization of the company’s marketing organization and implemented data-driven strategies to strengthen customer engagement and insight.  Prior to that she was senior vice president of Global Enterprise & Brand Marketing at Hilton, leading enterprise and brand portfolio marketing and supporting the launch of several new hotel brands.  Earlier in her career, Amy held marketing roles at Choice Hotels International in the U.S. and Europe.

Amy earned a B.A. in communications from Hood College and an MBA from George Washington University.

Dave Hoffman has served as chief accounting officer of the Company since the completion of the merger of legacy Six Flags and Cedar Fair. He also served as interim chief financial officer during the company’s CFO search in 2026.

Prior to the merger, Dave served as SVP and chief accounting officer of Cedar Fair from 2012 until the consummation of the merger in July 2024. From 2010 to 2012, Dave served as VP of Finance and Corporate Tax, as well as VP of Corporate Tax from 2006 through 2010. Prior to joining Cedar Fair, he served as a business advisor with Ernst & Young from 2002 through 2006.

Dave has earned a B.S. in Accounting from the University of Toledo and an MBA from the University of Michigan. He is a member of AICPA and OICPA.