After over 22 months of service, Richard Schuetz has reportedly announced his intention to resign at the end of the year as Executive Director for the Bermuda Casino Gaming Commission due to “personal and professional reasons”.

According to a report The Royal Gazette newspaper, Schuetz joined the Bermuda gaming regulator in September of 2015 after serving as a commissioner with the California Gambling Control Commission in Sacramento for nearly four years.

“It’s been an enormous privilege to work with the [Bermuda Casino Gaming Commission] and its staff to help create a viable casino industry, one that operates with a high level of integrity and ethics and produces jobs and investment for Bermuda as well as enhancing the island’s tourism product,” read a statement from Schuetz.

The newspaper reported that Schuetz, who will now assist in the identification and orientation of a successor, has a long track record in the casino industry after previously holding a wide array of executive positions in markets as diverse as Las Vegas, Minnesota and Louisiana.

“The Bermuda Casino Gaming Commission is thankful for Richard’s two years of service, leadership and commitment to formulating a framework for Bermuda’s introduction of integrated resort casinos,” read a statement from Alan Dunch, Chairman for the Bermuda Casino Gaming Commission. “We understand and support his decision to step down and are grateful for his assistance in positioning the [Bermuda Casino Gaming Commission] and its staff for future growth.”

Dunch reportedly told The Royal Gazette that Schuetz had decided to leave his post prior to last month’s island-wide general election but that the official announcement had been postponed in an effort to avoid the move becoming “part of the clamor surrounding the political campaigns”.

“As a result of Richard’s resignation, one of our immediate priorities will be to implement a search process with a view to recruiting a new Executive Director,” read the statement from Dunch. “I am pleased that Richard will be assisting us in this process so that his expertise will be available to us in terms of assessing the credentials of any applicants and advising us as to whom is best suited to take over from him in this role. He will also use his remaining time with us to ensure the Hamilton Princess response to the request for proposal for a provisional gaming license is appropriately handled without any disruption.”