ORLANDO, Fla., March 4, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- SeaWorld Entertainment, Inc., a leading theme park and entertainment company, announced today that Judith A. McHale has been named a member of the board of directors of SeaWorld Entertainment. 

McHale, who recently served in the U.S. State Department as Under Secretary of State for Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs, joins SeaWorld with more than three decades' experience in public service and the private sector.  She is the former President and Chief Executive Officer of Discovery Communications, parent company of the Discovery Channel.

Presently, McHale serves as the President and CEO of Cane Investments LLC, a private investment company focused on providing early stage capital and strategic advice and assistance to start up tech companies in the United States and around the world. 

Prior to Discovery, McHale served as General Counsel for MTV Networks, overseeing legal affairs for MTV, Nickelodeon and VH-1.  McHale is a graduate of the University of Nottingham in the United Kingdom and the Fordham University School of Law.

"Judith's remarkable and diverse professional background will be a great asset to our company," said Jim Atchison , President and CEO of SeaWorld Entertainment.  "She brings a great depth of experience to this role and, as she proved at Discovery, shares our passion for creating enriching and educational experiences."

"We are delighted that a person of Judith's caliber is joining the board. She has made significant contributions in public service as well as in the leadership roles she has played in complex media businesses.  Judith brings to SeaWorld a rare combination of personal and professional experiences," said David D'Alessandro, Chairman of the Board of SeaWorld Entertainment. 

"I am thrilled to be joining the board of SeaWorld Entertainment.  I look forward to working with the entire SeaWorld team as they continue to provide people of all ages with unique and entertaining experiences that allow them to learn more about the amazing creatures that inhabit our planet and have a great time doing so," McHale said. 

McHale has provided leadership to a range of organizations in both the private and public sectors.  She currently serves on the boards of Ralph Lauren Corp. and Yellow Media Group and has previously served on the boards of Potomac Power and Electric Company, John Hancock Financial Services Company, Host Hotels and Resorts and DigitalGlobe, Inc. 

She also has served on the boards of the Africa Society of the National Summit on Africa, Africare, the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation, the National Democratic Institute, Vital Voices and Scenic Hudson.

About SeaWorld Entertainment -- SeaWorld Entertainment inspires millions, through the power of entertainment, to celebrate, connect with and care for the natural world.  SeaWorld has been creating innovative entertainment experiences that blend imagination with nature for more than 50 years and is best known for its 11 U.S. theme parks, which hosted more than 24 million guests in 2012 and include the beloved SeaWorld^®, Busch Gardens^® and Sesame Place^® brands.  The theme parks offer guests a variety of up-close experiences, from animal encounters that invite exploration and appreciation of the natural world, to thrilling rides and spectacular shows.  SeaWorld recently began expanding its popular brands into media and entertainment platforms and consumer products. 

SeaWorld is one of the world's foremost zoological organizations and a global leader in animal welfare, training, husbandry and veterinary care.  The company cares for one of the largest animal collections in the world and has helped lead advances in the care of animals.  The company also operates, in collaboration with others, one of the world's most respected rescue programs for ill and injured marine animals, with the goal of rehabilitating and returning them to the wild.  Over four decades, SeaWorld animal experts have helped more than 22,000 ill, injured, orphaned and abandoned animals.  SeaWorld Entertainment employs more than 21,000 people nationwide.

SOURCE SeaWorld Entertainment, Inc.