ORLANDO, Fla. — International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions president and CEO Hal McEvoy is retiring from the trade association next year.

McEvoy’s retirement will take effect April 1, 2023, according to Tuesday’s news release.

“Hal has done a tremendous job leading this association through some truly exciting and unprecedented times,” said Ken Whiting, 2022 IAAPA chairman and president of Whiting’s Foods at Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk, in a statement.

“Under Hal’s leadership, organization completed the headquarters relocation from Alexandria to Orlando, worked with the Board and Relocation Task Force to design and build the new headquarters building, and grew membership and total revenues to all-time highs in 2019," the statement continued.

McEvoy first joined the Orlando-based association in 2017 when he was hired as its chief financial officer. He was named interim president and CEO of IAAPA in February 2018. In October of that year he was selected to be president and CEO.

Prior to IAAPA, McEvoy started his career as a part-time accounting clerk at Busch Gardens Tampa Bay in 1975. He worked his way up through the company, eventually becoming vice president of finance for Busch Gardens Williamsburg. In 2012, McEvoy moved to Orlando to be the corporate vice president of internal audit and compliance for SeaWorld Parks and Entertainment.

IAAPA, founded in 1918, is the global association for the attractions industry. It holds the IAAPA Expo every year in Orlando.

IAAPA said it will conduct a global search for McEvoy’s replacement.