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NEUMANN STEPS DOWN FROM AINSWORTH BOARD

Ainsworth Game Technology announced that its chief executive officer, Harald Neumann, has resigned his position on the company’s board of directors, Harald Neumann but will continue as the company’s chief executive officer, with that role unchanged.

The board will now be undertaking a search process to appoint an additional independent, nonexecutive director.

“We appreciate Harald’s constructive decision to step down from the board to ensure AGT complies with governance best practices,” said Ainsworth Chairman Danny Gladstone. “AGT now has three directors, with two of these being independent non-executives. We look forward to Harald’s ongoing leadership and contribution to AGT following his appointment as CEO.”

MGM SHUFFLES PRESIDENTS

Three major MGM Resorts casino hotels have new leaders.

Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa in Atlantic City has announced the appointment of a new president. Veteran casino executive Travis Lunn replaces Melonie Johnson, who returns to MGM National Harbor as president and COO, a post she held prior to joining Borgata in 2020.

Lunn had been serving as Southeast group president and chief operating officer for MGM Resorts, where he oversaw two Mississippi casinos: the Beau Rivage Resort & Casino in Biloxi and the Gold Strike in Tunica. Replacing Lunn will be Brandon Dardeau, who had most recently been general manager at Gold Strike as well as participating in the recent reimagining of Mlife to MGM Rewards.

For Lunn, he led MGM Grand Las Vegas as general manager and senior vice president of operations and before that served as vice president of operations for the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas, and general manager of hotel operations for The Venetian and The Palazzo resorts.

“It’s an honor to be joining this incredibly talented team,” Lunn said in a statement. “Borgata is a world-class resort destination with a brand recognized nationwide for its spectacular accommodations, culinary program and entertainment offerings. I can’t wait to jump in and connect with all of the employees, guests and local community members.”

ANNA SAINSBURY RESUMES CEO POSITION AT GEOCOMPLY

GeoComply co-founder and Chairwoman Anna Sainsbury will resume her position as CEO of the company. She replaces the other co-founder, David Briggs, who will become director of the Vancouver firm. His position will zero in on initiatives such as the expansion of cybersecurity services into new markets, according to CDC Gaming Reports.

“David will continue to be an essential part of the company by dedicating himself to special projects, not least by providing core leadership on GeoComply’s future in fintech,” Sainsbury said in a statement. “He will also focus on managing and delivering innovation on the product front and will take a central role in consolidating our internship and graduate recruitment programs to secure a bright future for our team’s growth.”

Sainsbury oversaw the company as CEO from its founding in 2012 through 2018, a period marked by the expansion of services through products that combat fraud and verify user locations for gaming compliance.

ECLIPSE NAMES OLSON-REYES SENIOR VP OF MARKETING

Eclipse Gaming, a provider of casino games for tribal and commercial gaming markets, last month announced that Laura Olson-Reyes has joined the company as senior vice president of marketing to lead the company’s marketing, Olson-Reyes communications and community relations strategy and execution.

Olson-Reyes most recently served as vice president of marketing and corporate communications at AGS, where she led numerous corporate and product marketing initiatives, trade shows and events, social media and influencer marketing, public relations and internal communications, and was extensively involved in community relations and the company’s diversity, equity and inclusion program.

Before that, Olson-Reyes served three years as the executive director, community and corporate relations for Scientific Games. Earlier, she served more than seven years as the senior director of corporate marketing and communications at Bally Technologies.

PEAK NEW PRACTICE LEADER AT HBG DESIGN

HBG Design announced last month that Nathan Peak, AIA, LEED GA, has been named practice leader of the top 10 nationally recognized hospitality design and architecture firm. In his new role, Peak will oversee design and practice leadership for HBG’s three offices in Memphis, San Diego and Dallas. His promotion to practice leader represents the initial step in HBG Design’s transition to its third generation of firm leadership.

“Of his 20-plus years with the firm, Peak has served as HBG’s design director for nearly a decade, leading and guiding the design direction of the firm’s national hospitality and entertainment projects,” said Rick Gardner, CEO of HBG Design. “Nathan continues to be a transformative leader with immense creative vision and ambition for the firm’s growth,”

Peak plans to build on the firm’s deep bench of talented professionals to further position HBG Design’s national presence into multiple sectors of the hospitality industry.