Bension to Lead MCA’s Theme Park Operation

In a move to strengthen management of its theme parks and other recreation areas, MCA Inc. has named Jay S. Stein chairman and chief executive of its recreation services group. In conjunction, Ron Bension has been named president and chief operating officer of the group.

Stein, 53, who formerly served as president of recreation services, said the company remains committed to opening Universal Studios theme parks in Europe and Japan. Stein will also seek out new leisure-time business opportunities, and oversee ongoing improvements at the company’s troubled Universal Studios Florida.

“We’ve had some highly public reliability problems,” Stein said, referring to malfunctions on such major attractions as King Kong and Jaws. “At this point, we’ve got to work through those problems, and we are.”

Helping Stein run the division will be Bension, 36, who began his career as a street sweeper at Universal Studios Hollywood 19 years ago.

Bension has served as president and chief operating officer of the park since 1988. In his new capacity, he will oversee the daily operations of both parks and supervise other recreation activities.

In a prepared statement, Sidney J. Sheinberg, president and chief operating officer of MCA, called Stein and Bension “two of the most creative and able individuals in the leisure-time industry.”