SeaWorld’s chief financial officer to retire amid company’s ‘bright future’

Elizabeth Castro Gulacsy, Orlando-based SeaWorld’s Chief Financial Officer, is retiring after nine years with the company.

Castro Gulacsy, who also serves as SeaWorld’s treasurer, will retire on Dec. 31 or as soon as the company hires someone new into the positions, according to a news release. She has worked in the roles since May 2021.

“With SeaWorld in a strong financial position, incredible momentum and an extremely bright future, the time is right for me to move on to the next chapter in my career,” Castro Gulacsy, 48, said in a statement.

During a recent earnings call, SeaWorld reported record earnings and attendance as executives hinted at building new theme parks and hotels.

The company is using an undisclosed “nationally recognized recruiting firm” to find candidates for the CFO position.

Before becoming SeaWorld’s treasurer and CFO, Castro Gulacsy served in an interim position in those roles in the early months of the pandemic, from April 2020 to May 2021, and from September to November 2019. Current CEO Marc Swanson held the jobs before being promoted to CEO in April 2020 during a period of rapid executive turnover within the company.

Even after she steps down, Castro Gulacsy plans to continue consulting with SeaWorld as long as needed to “ensure a smooth transition.”

“I have great respect for the leadership team and the Board of this Company, and I want to thank them for their support, partnership, mentorship and friendship over my many years at the Company,” she said. “... I’m committed to working with Marc, the rest of the leadership team and the Board to ensure a seamless transition and to continue to support SeaWorld in any way I can going forward.”

Castro Gulacsy also previously worked as SeaWorld’s Corporate Vice President of Financial Reporting from 2016 to 2017 and its Director of Financial Reporting from 2013 to 2016. She worked at Cross Country Healthcare, Inc. and Ernst & Young LLP prior to joining SeaWorld.

In a statement, Swanson thanked Castro Gulacsy for her time at the company and for helping lead SeaWorld through the uncertainty of the COVID19 pandemic.

“Elizabeth’s extensive financial and leadership skills, unwavering commitment and tireless efforts have helped deliver significant value for stakeholders,” he said. “We are proud she has called SeaWorld Entertainment, Inc. home for the past nine years and appreciate her dedication to help us through an extended transition period while we search for her successor. We wish her much success going forward.”