American casino operator, MGM Resorts International, has announced that Bill Hornbuckle (pictured) has been selected to replace the outgoing James Murren as its latest Chief Executive Officer.

The Las Vegas-headquartered firm used an official Sunday press release to declare that Hornbuckle is ‘a four-decade veteran of the gaming industry’ and most recently worked as its Chief Operating Officer where he was in charge of all domestic and international construction and development endeavors including the firm’s $800 million MGM Springfield project. It stated that the 62-year-old joined its ranks in 1998 following stints with Mirage Resorts and Caesars Entertainment Corporation to serve as President and Chief Operating Officer for its MGM Grand Las Vegas property before going on to fill a similar role at its Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino Las Vegas venue.

Extensive experience:

MGM Resorts International explained that Hornbuckle moreover had a three-year spell from 2009 working as its Chief Marketing Officer in advance of being put in charge of its efforts in the United Kingdom as President and Chief Operating Officer for its MGM Resorts International Europe arm. It pronounced that the UNLV graduate is furthermore now set to serve as its President while maintaining a presence on the boards of its MGM China Holdings Limited and MGM Growth Properties concerns.

Countering coronavirus:

Murren revealed last month that he would be stepping down before the expiration of his current contract and used yesterday’s press release to proclaim that he ‘fully supports’ the appointment of Hornbuckle so as to assist MGM Resorts International in addressing a ‘rapidly changing environment’. The 58-year-old more recently detailed that he will be leading a new public-private taskforce that is to work to contain the spread of a coronavirus strain that last week led Nevada Governor Steve Sisolak to close every one of the western state’s casinos for 30 days.

Read a statement from Murren…

“I have great confidence in Hornbuckle and the management team to lead MGM Resorts International at this critical juncture as we have together through numerous hardships of the past. I will continue to dedicate my efforts to help during this uncertain time and I will be assisting the state of Nevada in its crisis response and recovery efforts.”

Chairman change:

Paul Salem, the experienced investment banker who is to now take over from Murren as Chairman for MGM Resorts International, used the press release to assert that Hornbuckle ‘is one of the most experienced operators in the business’ and that the casino firm has ‘confidence in his ability to bring this company back online’ once the Nevada coronavirus-related closures are lifted.

Salem’s statement read…

“The nation is facing an unprecedented crisis, causing the travel and hospitality industry to grind to a near halt. It is clear that once the threat to the public health has subsided and we are ready to reopen our resorts and casinos, it will take an incredible effort to ramp back up. We believe continued steady and skilled leadership is needed in this time of great upheaval and uncertainty.”

Positive conviction:

For his part and Hornbuckle proclaimed that MGM Resorts International has ‘an incredible challenge ahead’ but that he has ‘every confidence’ that it will be able to ‘remain the global entertainment leader once this crisis is contained and it is safe to operate.’

Hornbuckle’s statement read…

“We have a talented leadership team, the best employees in the world and a loyal customer base. I look forward to working with Paul and the entire board of directors as we plan for the future.”