CEC Entertainment Inc., parent to the 577-unit Chuck E. Cheese’s brand, has named Thomas Leverton as chief executive, the company said Tuesday.
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Leverton, who most recently served as chief executive of the Topgolf entertainment chain, succeeds Michael H. Magusiak, who retired June 2 as president and chief executive of Irving, Texas-based CEC.
Lance Milken, CEC’s chairman and partner at private-equity firm Apollo Global Management LLC, in a statement commended Leverton’s “experience in the entertainment and restaurant industries, demonstrated success growing businesses and strong track record as a seasoned leader.”
New York-based Apollo Global Management took CEC private in a $1.3 billion deal in February.
Prior to Topgolf, Leverton served as CEO at Omniflight, an air medical operator, and held executive roles at FedEx Office, including executive vice president and chief development officer. He also was chief operating officer of TXU Energy, a retail electric provider. He began his career at Johnson & Johnson and Bain & Co.
Leverton said in the announcement that “with Chuck E. Cheese's established brand, dedicated employees and strategic partnerships, the company is well positioned to expand and provide an even greater customer experience.”
CEC has family-entertainment locations in 47 states and 10 other nations and territories.
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