Six Flags Entertainment Corp., one of the world’s largest theme park and water park operators, is tapping a PepsiCo executive to be its next chief executive officer. The Grand Prairie-based company announced the hiring of Michael Spanos after trading markets closed Thursday.

Six Flags Entertainment Corporation today announced its board of directors has appointed Jim Reid-Anderson, who has been serving as Executive Chairman of the company since February 2016, as the company's new Chairman, President and CEO effective immediately, replacing John M. Duffey who has retired from the company.