With plenty of comings and goings around the industry, allow CasinoBeats to give you the rundown on a number of recent manoeuvres.
Bragg Gaming Group
Holly Gagnon and Alex Spiro have been appointed to the Bragg Gaming Group board of directors, with the group lauding the addition of ‘specialist expertise’.
Gagnon is an experienced gaming industry CEO with over 29 years’ in the industry, and has held senior positions at the likes of Seneca Gaming Corporation, Caesars Entertainment Corporation, MGM Resorts International, and Harrah’s Entertainment.
Spiro, a former prosecutor and the former coordinator of a program for children with autism at McLean Hospital, Harvard Medical School’s psychiatric facility, is a litigator and investor and serves as chair of Glassbridge Enterprises.
“We’re extremely pleased that Holly and Alex have agreed to contribute their expertise to the Bragg board,” said Paul Godfrey, chair of the board at Bragg Gaming Group.
“Holly’s extensive experience in the North American gaming sector will be invaluable as we expand our footprint in the US, and Alex brings exceptional analytical and business leadership skills to the team. Their areas of expertise are strong complements to our current board.”
Full House Resorts
A series of management promotions have been outlined by Full House Resorts, with Angelika Truebner-Webb, the current executive director of finance of administration at Indiana’s Rising Star Casino Resort, to be elevated to the role of general manager, pending customary gaming approvals.
Furthermore, the same property is to also see James McCracken promoted to assistant general manager, as well as Ashlee Wilkerson to director of human resources.
Elsewhere, in the group’s Nevada segment, which consists of Grand Lodge Casino in Incline Village and Stockman’s Casino in Fallon, Cyndy Carter formerly director of finance, is to become assistant general manager.
“I am pleased to announce these recent promotions from within our internal ranks,” stated Daniel Lee, president and CEO of Full House Resorts. “Angi, Cyndy, Jim, and Ashlee have done great jobs in helping our company grow to new heights. We look forward to their continued contributions in their new leadership roles.”
Crown Resorts
Steve McCann is to become chief executive officer and managing director of Crown Resorts, subject to the receipt of probity and regulatory approvals.
McCann, currently CEO of real estate and investment group Lendlease Corporation, a role he has held for more than a decade, last year delayed his planned retirement to lead the group’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic, and will retire from the board on May 31 2021.
He will join from June 1, 2021, with Helen Coonan to continue to perform her executive responsibilities as interim executive chairman until approvals have been received, in order to ensure a smooth transition.
Coonan said: “Steve is a first-class appointment for Crown and the right person to embed the ongoing reforms necessary to restore regulatory and public confidence in our operations.
“Recognised as one of Australia’s most respected business leaders, Steve has a unique blend of strategic, financial and corporate governance expertise and a track record of building strong employee engagement and driving cultural change.
“During a comprehensive recruitment process, Steve was the clear choice from a quality
field of prospective candidates. The board was looking for a CEO firmly committed to building on the momentum for change within our business and Steve is ideally placed to hit the ground running as our sweeping reform program takes hold.”
Alliance for Gambling Reform
The board of the Alliance for Gambling Reform has announced the appointment of Gordon Ramsay as the organisation’s new CEO.
Gordon brings a wealth of experience to the role, most recently as the ACT attorney-general from 2016-2020. While in government, Ramsay is lauded as championing a gambling reform agenda in the ACT, resulting in a more than 20 per cent reduction in poker machines, and substantial regulatory improvements that have laid the pathway for ongoing reform.
Sharon Dickson, board chair, explained: “Gordon brings a wealth of experience that will further the Alliance’s work with our partners and community to reduce gambling harm, which is one of the most pressing public health issues we face as Australians.
“Gordon has a unique combination of experience in social justice and advocacy, as CEO in a services-based organisation, working with people with lived experience, and in gambling reform in the political arena. I’m excited about the change we will achieve with Gordon leading the organisation.
“I’d like to take this opportunity to thank Tony Mohr for his contributions as the inaugural leader of the Alliance. His work and that of the Alliance’s staff has created a solid foundation for Gordon to build on. It’s exciting times ahead.”
