Meet the CEO whose career working at America’s favorite brands made Chuck E. Cheese and Topgolf his next challenges

A career in entertainment

He later spent 13 years at Six Flags, building experience across sponsorships, licensing and park operations. As a senior executive, he also helped develop Six Flags Qiddiya in Saudi Arabia, home to Falcon’s Flight.

Leading Chuck E. Cheese

McKillips became president and CEO of CEC Entertainment, Chuck E. Cheese’s parent company, on January 21, 2020. Six weeks later, the pandemic closed all its locations, and revenue fell by roughly 90 percent.

CEC filed for Chapter 11 protection in June 2020. McKillips oversaw a financial reorganization and new capital, while the company updated venues, entertainment, games, food and prizes and introduced a membership program.

A new role at Topgolf

In February 2026, McKillips became CEO of Topgolf International. The business pairs golf with dining and social entertainment, and uses Toptracer technology to track shots at its venues and support major golf broadcasts.

Leonard Green & Partners completed a $1.1 billion purchase of a majority stake in the company as McKillips took on its next stage. New venues have opened, leadership changes have taken place, and he reportedly visited more than 100 venues in his first 100 days.

McKillips described Topgolf as “the gateway to golf,” saying it makes the sport more accessible through a social, casual experience. He said new programs would help make visits repeatable.