Momentum Leisure, a leading developer and operator of theme parks in Central and Eastern Europe, has announced the appointment of two new executives. Roland Gerets has been named Chief Marketing Officer, and Tom van der Sommen will take on the role of Chief Financial Officer.
In April this year, CEO Wouter Dekkers (center in the photo) took over the helm of Momentum Leisure from Martijn van Rheenen, the CEO and founder of impact investor Momentum Capital. With the appointment of a CMO and CFO, the company’s transition to a new executive team is now complete. At the end of June, the company opened its third theme park in Poland: Majaland Gdańsk. Following the success of Majaland Kownaty (2018), near Berlin, and Majaland Warsaw (2022), this latest park has further strengthened Momentum Leisure’s position in the growth market of Central and Eastern Europe. Each park attracts nearly 300,000 visitors annually. Plans for a fourth park in Gliwice, in southern Poland, are now in advanced stages.
Roland Gerets (58, right in the photo) brings over 30 years of experience in sales and marketing, having held several senior leadership positions, including in the leisure and entertainment sectors. Since 2014, he has also been a lecturer in Digital Marketing at KU Leuven. Tom van der Sommen (32, left in the photo) has a broad financial background, with leadership experience in various industries, including the leisure sector. He has also held multiple financial roles in the private equity sector.
Wouter Dekkers, CEO of Momentum Leisure, commented:
“With Roland and Tom, we have a strong leadership team in place to further shape the growth ambitions of this organisation. Both have a deep passion for the world of leisure and entertainment and bring a wealth of experience. In recent months, we have already been working together to prepare the organisation for the next phase. We see great opportunities for further enhancing our positioning, especially as we now work not only with well-known characters like Maya the Bee and Vic the Viking but also with the Smurfs, PAW Patrol, and SpongeBob SquarePants.”
Martijn van Rheenen, CEO of Momentum Capital, added:
“In April, I was pleased and proud to pass the baton to Wouter Dekkers, one of the most experienced business leaders in the world of leisure and theme parks. The company is in excellent hands with him, and Momentum Leisure is closing this year on a high note. As Momentum Capital, we are very proud to have nurtured this unique investment to maturity in just a few years, with a strong focus on societal and social impact. Our decision to develop leisure in Central and Eastern Europe has proven to be a successful strategy. We welcome Roland and Tom on board and look forward to a prosperous future.”
About Momentum Leisure
Since 2008, Momentum Leisure has been developing and operating leading theme parks in Central and Eastern Europe, aiming to offer festive experiences and lasting shared memories for all ages. Following the successful openings of Majaland Kownaty in 2018 and Majaland Warsaw in 2022, Majaland Gdańsk was added to its portfolio in 2024. As part of its growth strategy, Momentum Leisure is strongly committed to safety, family values, and sustainability, principles that remain central to every new park.
