SAM Magazine—Boyne Falls, Mich., May 14, 2026—Boyne Resorts has appointed Dan Cockerell to the newly created role of president of operations, effective Aug. 1, 2026. Cockerell will report to Boyne Resorts president and CEO Stephen Kircher.

Cockerell spent most of his career at The Walt Disney Company in several leadership roles during his 26 years there, ultimately serving as vice president of Disney’s Magic Kingdom. He’s been the CEO of Torrens University in Sydney, Australia, since January 2024, according to his LinkedIn page. He is also the co-founder, with his wife Valerie, of Cockerell Consulting, and authored “How’s the Culture in Your Kingdom,” a book on leadership and organizational culture in service-driven companies.

Kircher said that with his appointment to chairperson of the National Ski Areas Association executive committee it was the right time to add this new role to help shepherd Boyne Resorts’ continued and potential growth. “[T]he timing is right to bring on a leader of this depth in experience, who can serve as a stronger central partner to our senior team and strengthen succession planning and leadership development across the company,” said Kircher. “Dan brings the experience, the philosophy and the discipline this role requires, and he has known Boyne for years through industry collaboration and prior work with our teams. The fit is genuine.”

The new role is designed to bolster operational leadership capabilities across the Boyne Resorts portfolio while preserving resort autonomy and support local decision-making, the company said in a press release.

“Boyne Resorts has built one of the most distinctive collections of resort and four-season properties in North America, and it has done so as an independent, family-owned company over multiple generations. That is rare, and it is worth protecting,” said Cockerell. “I have admired this company for a long time, and I’m honored to join Stephen and the team at a moment when there is so much ahead, from executing the long-range plans at each resort to growing the bench of leaders who will carry Boyne forward for the next generation.”

Boyne Resorts has just completed another record winter season, according to the press release, which added that the company continues to execute capital and operational plans across its network and pursue organic growth opportunities.