Confirmed: Resorts World Names Jim Murren to “Save” Struggling Resort, But With a Twist
Just yesterday, we shared first word Jim Murren was being brought onboard by Resorts World to try and help right the resort’s ship.
It’s been confirmed, but in a way nobody saw coming. Murren won’t be president and CEO, as rumored. He’ll head up a four-person board overseeing Resorts World.
Alex Dixon has been named CEO, whomever that might be. Yes, it’s all very confusing, but we love us some glorious drama.
The official announcement of Resorts World’s leadership changes was full of the requisite PR bullshit: “This announcement underscores Resorts World Las Vegas’s path of evolution as the appointments bolster the property’s governance structure to help drive the go-forward business strategy.”
Never trust anyone who uses “Vegas’s” as the possessive of “Vegas.”
Resorts World has suffered some serious slings and arrows since it opened, caught up scandals related to money laundering, along with a recent quarterly financial report that was its worst in three years.
Jim Murren, former CEO of MGM Resorts, being appointed to oversee a board is an interesting move, with several possible explanations.
This arrangement avoids Murren stepping directly into a president/CEO role, which brings with it more scrutiny about his part in any compliance shenanigans when he was with MGM Resorts.
Being president/CEO of one casino would also be a step back in Murren’s career trajectory. Now, he’s in more of an advisory position, gets a big check, and he’s not really on the hook for results. You know, like heading up the Nevada COVID-19 Task Force.
The whole situation is wild. Resorts World names Alex Dixon as CEO (previously CEO at Q Casino & Resort and Dubuque Racing Association in Dubuque, Iowa), presumably an “outsider” to ensure the appearance of propriety at Resorts World as the resort faces millions in potential fines for letting illegal bookmakers gamble there, but Jim Murren is the moral compass leading the resurrection of the resort?
Dixon has also worked with MGM Resorts, Caesars Entertainment and Goldman Sachs. He takes his new post at Resorts World effective Jan. 16, 2025.
The former president of Resorts World, Scott Sibella, pled guilty to ignoring suspicious transactions at MGM Grand. Sibella was what’s known as a “fall guy.”
Everybody knew.
MGM Resorts paid a $7.45 million fine in a non-prosecution agreement with the Department of Justice to make its alleged anti-money laundering compliance failings go away. Nothing says, “We’re squeaky clean!” like non-prosecution agreements.
Resorts World’s announcement includes the other three board members: A.G. Burnett, Michelle DiTondo and Kong Han Tan.
Burnett was the former chair and member of the Nevada Gaming Control Board (2011-2017). You know, the watchdogs who ensure casinos comply with regulations like, oh, anti-money laundering compliance.
Michelle DiTondo worked in Human Resources at MGM Resorts, Caesars Entertainment and American Express. Solid experience for dealing with money laundering allegations and lackluster financial results. (Oh, and never trust a news release that has an apostrophe in “Caesar’s” as Resorts World’s does.)
Kong Han Tan is president, CEO and Executive Director of Genting Berhad, the owner of Resorts World Las Vegas.
As the kids say, “What could possibly go wrong?”
It’s been one debacle after another at Resorts World, including that time the hotel’s massive video screen was used to bash a VIP host at XS Nightclub at Wynn. We are not making this up.
Resorts World is a lovely resort, but its Malaysian-based ownership appears utterly clueless when it comes to doing business in Las Vegas. This effort to put to bed any questions about the resort’s practices and ethics only serves to raise more questions. Primarily, “WTF are they doing?”
Honestly, inside casino baseball is nearly as boring as actual baseball. We’ll try to keep it to a minimum.
Leave your thoughts on “Confirmed: Resorts World Names Jim Murren to “Save” Struggling Resort, But With a Twist”
4 Comments