Casino giant MGM Resorts International has appointed Jonathan Halkyard as its new chief financial officer.
Halkyard will succeed Corey Sanders, who returns to the role of chief operating officer of the business – which he held before shifting to the CFO position in February 2019 – and report directly to president and chief executive Bill Hornbuckle.
As CFO, Halkyard will serve on MGM Resorts’ senior management team and have responsibility for all finance-related activities across its US and global portfolio, as well as investor relations, accounting, treasury, procurement and tax.
Halkyard most recently served as president and chief executive of budget hotel chain Extended Stay America and real estate investment trust ESH Hospitality, prior to which he spent 13 years in leadership roles at Caesars Entertainment, including a spell as CFO.
He was also part of the leadership team that oversaw the $30bn sale of Caesars Entertainment to private equity giants TPG and Apollo and drove over $200m of savings post-closing.
“After a career largely spent in hospitality and gaming, I am excited and proud to become part of the senior leadership team at one of the world’s most iconic gaming, hospitality and entertainment destination brands,” Halkyard said.
“We face the greatest challenges to corporate management in recent history and I am eager to get to work and continue the fine legacy of executive management at MGM Resorts.”
Hornbuckle added: “Jonathan brings the right mix of financial discipline, investor acumen, operating experience and seasoned corporate leadership to MGM Resorts at a vital time in our evolution.
“His passion for hospitality, considerable experience in gaming, previous stewardship of strong balance sheets and investor credibility make him an excellent choice to complement our strong and committed leadership team.”
The appointment comes after MGM Resorts this week announced details of a proposal to acquire Entain, formerly known as GVC Holdings. The offer of 0.6 MGM shares for each Entain share, valuing the Ladbrokes and PartyGaming operator at approximately $11.00bn.