Kieran Burke

In a career spanning nearly 30 years, Kieran Burke has a rich, successful track record as a leader in the amusement industry.

Recruited in 1989 to restructure a struggling real estate company based in Oklahoma City, Burke disposed of prior real estate investments and reorganized the company as Premier Parks, Inc., focusing exclusively on the theme park and water park industry. Through a program of acquisitions (including the purchase of the Six Flags parks from Time Warner in 1998), park expansions and operational improvement, he led the consolidation of the regional theme park industry in North America, growing from one park to the world’s largest regional theme park operator with 39 parks in 8 countries in North America and Europe and over $1.2 billion in revenues.

During his tenure, Burke led the company through several billion dollars of private equity, public equity and debt financings; renamed the company Six Flags, Inc. and took the firm public with a listing on the NYSE.

Serving as Chairman and CEO of Six Flags (and its predecessor companies) for 16 years, Burke was involved in all aspects of marketing and operations (including theme parks, water parks, hotels, indoor water park hotels, campgrounds and resorts, concert amphitheaters, park expansions, and marinas) as well as design and construction of new parks, rides, hotels, indoor water parks, restaurants and campgrounds.

In 2009 Burke founded Premier Parks, LLC and its affiliated companies with the purchase of Nashville Shores water park, campground and marina. Premier Parks presently operates 11 theme parks, water parks and multi use venues throughout the US and Canada.

Before entering the theme park industry, Mr. Burke, a graduate of Harvard Law School, was an investment banker from 1985-1989 specializing in real estate and hotel finance. Prior to 1985, he was engaged in the private practice of law in New York. Mr. Burke is a past member of the Board of Directors of the International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions (IAAPA).