Amsterdam, 30 January – Momentum Leisure, European market developer in leisure, entertainment and retail, today announced the appointment of Wouter Dekkers (52) as its new Chief Executive Officer as per April 1, 2024. Dekkers will lead the company's further expansion, with an initial focus on growth markets in Central Europe. Momentum Leisure already operates a number of theme parks in Poland and is developing, among other concepts, a brand new water park. Amusement park veteran Dekkers is expected to present the organization's multi-year strategy mid-year.
Momentum Leisure started its leisure projects in 2008 with the purchase of more than 200 hectares in Poland. Momentum currently includes Majaland Kownaty (2018) and Majaland Warsaw (2022). Majaland Gdansk will open coming summer. Plans include a water park at Majaland Warsaw and a Tomorrowland-style water park near the German capital Berlin.
Dekkers is a seasoned leader in the amusement park sector, where he started at Six Flags Holland about 25 years ago. In the following years he held various senior management positions within the Parques Reunidos Group. For example, he managed Movie Park Germany, Amusement Park and Holiday Resort Slagharen and the German holiday resort Tropical Islands. “Momentum Leisure has great plans for the future and a promising long-term vision, which appeals to me very much,” says Dekkers, who will lead the organization from Amsterdam. “I am happy that I can use my experience in the industry to further grow the company.”
Andreas Andersen, member of the Supervisory Board of Momentum Leisure and president & CEO of the Swedish Liseberg Group: "Wouter is one of the most respected, well versed and experienced professional in the attractions industry. He is the ideal person to further shape and contribute to the great ambitions of Momentum Leisure.”
The appointment of Dekkers strengthens the leadership of the amusement park group. Martijn van Rheenen, CEO of Momentum Capital, which is the largest participant in Momentum Leisure: “Momentum Leisure has the ambition to expand its portfolio with theme and water parks in order to take a leading position in the metropolitan areas of Central Europe. With several new parks in development and with acquisition targets in sight, inside and outside Poland, we focus on realizing ten locations with more than five million visitors per year. It is a long-term strategy that Momentum Leisure will further realize step by step through the reinforcement with Wouter Dekkers.”
About Momentum Leisure
Momentum Leisure works with leading European brands in the field of leisure, entertainment and retail. The team has more than 200 years of collective experience in the theme park sector and combines a pioneering mentality with strong market and industry knowledge and excellent local networks to actually make the parks a reality. The company has world-class licenses for theme parks (including Tomorrowland, Nickelodeon, The Smurfs and Studio 100 / Plopsa). Momentum Leisure benefits as a first mover with healthy results in its growth markets, with excellent potential. To date, approximately 150 million euros have been invested in theme parks in the growth markets of Central Europe. All Momentum Leisure projects are 100% equity financed.
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