Great Wolf Resorts, Inc. has appointed Jay Markham as its new chief financial officer. Markham brings more than 20 years of experience in strategic financial planning and operational leadership within the hospitality and financial services sectors to his new role. He will oversee the company’s finance, accounting and procurement functions.
Markham has held multiple leadership roles during his tenure at Great Wolf Resorts, most recently serving as senior vice president of finance, where he led the company’s Financial Planning & Analysis (FP&A) and Procurement functions. Building on more than a decade of financial leadership within Great Wolf, he will also play a critical role in driving the financial performance of five new Great Wolf Lodge locations that opened over the past 30 months, as well as serve as an advisor for future development and strategic capital decisions.
“Jay’s appointment to CFO is more than a reflection of his qualifications and experience. During his tenure with us, he has gained the trust and admiration of fellow Pack Members throughout the company, as well as with our external shareholders,” said John Murphy, chief executive officer of Great Wolf Resorts. “His financial acumen and deep understanding of our business will be essential as we continue to grow and provide a top-tier experience for our guests.”
Before joining Great Wolf Resorts, Markham served as corporate controller at Golub Capital, a direct lender and private credit manager with over $75 billion in capital under management. Before that, he worked for Ernst & Young LLP, most recently as a senior auditor.
“I’m incredibly honored to step into the CFO role at a company that has supported my growth over the past 12 years,” he said. “I’ve had the privilege of working alongside some of the most dedicated and talented people in the industry, and I look forward to supporting our teams as we continue to build upon our already proven track record of growth and innovation.”
