Six Flags hires new general counsel

Theme park operator Six Flags Entertainment Corporation has hired Laura Doerre as executive vice president and general counsel, effective March 9.

According to an SEC filing, Doerre is joining the Grand Prairie, Texas-based company from door and window manufacturer JELD-WEN, where she has been executive vice president, general counsel and chief compliance officer since September 2016.

Before joining JELD-WEN, Doerre worked at Nabors Industries from 1996 to August 2016, serving as vice president and general counsel from 2008 to August 2016. Prior to Nabors, she practiced commercial litigation with law firm Mayor Day Caldwell & Keeton.

Doerre succeeds Lance Balk, who informed Six Flags last November that he intended to retire in 2020 after almost 10 years in the post. According to an SEC filing by the NYSE-listed company, Balk and Six Flags reached a retirement agreement to manage a smooth transition under which he would continue to serve in his role as executive vice president and general counsel until a transition date on or after February 28, 2020. As of that date, Balk will continue in employment with the company as of counsel adviser for two years.

Balk became general counsel of Six Flags in September 2010. He had previously served as senior vice president and general counsel of Siemens Healthcare Diagnostics from November 2007 to January 2010. Before its acquisition by Siemens, he served in the same capacity at Dade Behring from May 2006 to November 2007.

A Six Flags representative did not respond immediately to a request for comment on Doerre’s appointment.