ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) - SeaWorld Entertainment's chief executive has resigned only five months into his job, becoming the third leader of the theme park company to depart in just over two years, according to a company filing released Monday.
Sergio Rivera cited his disagreement with the board of directors' involvement in decision-making at the company, according to a filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.
His predecessor, Gustavo "Gus" Antorcha, cited a similar reason for his leaving last September.
Rivera handed in his resignation Saturday. He was named the CEO of the company last November.
The spread of the novel coronavirus has paralyzed the theme park industry. Like most other theme park companies operating in the U.S., SeaWorld's 12 theme parks have been closed since mid-March.
The company said more than a week ago that it was furloughing 90% of its workers.
SeaWorld employs about 4,700 full-time employees and approximately 12,000 part-time employees. During peak season in 2018, the company hired more than 4,000 additional seasonal workers, many of whom are high school and college students. None of the company's employees are covered by a collective bargaining agreement.