MOHEGAN GAMING CEO STEPPING DOWN
Mario Kontomerkos has led parent organization of casino since 2017
Just hours after the Mashantucket Pequot tribe named Jason Guyot as president and CEO of Foxwoods Resort Casino, Mohegan Gaming & Entertainment has announced its top executive is leaving.
Mario Kontomerkos, president and chief executive officer of Mohegan Gaming & Entertainment, will step down at the end of the month. He has held the position since October 2017.
James Gessner, Jr., chairman of the Mohegan Tribe, said chief operating officer Ray Pineault will serve as interim chief executive officer, subject to necessary regulatory filings or approvals.
The announcement from Mohegan Gaming & Entertainment gave no reason for Kontomerkos’ departure. He is a resident of Madison, but does not have a listed phone number.
“During his tenure with the organization, first as chief financial officer and more recently as CEO, Mario played a critical role in the growth and success of the organization,” Gessner said in a written statement. “We thank Mario for his many years of service to the Tribe and MGE, more recently navigating the company successfully through the ongoing global pandemic as well as a major refinancing earlier this year. We wish Mario all the best in his future endeavors and opportunities.”
Pineault, COO at MGE since July 2020, has also served as regional president at MGE and president and general manager of the flagship property, Mohegan Sun in Connecticut.
Carol Anderson, who served as senior vice president of treasury, capital markets and associate general counsel at Scientific Games Corporation in Las Vegas, will assume the role of chief financial officer. Scientific Games provides gambling products and services to lottery and gambling organizations.
The changes in leadership at Mohegan Sun and Foxwoods comes at a crucial time for the two casinos. The state has proposed an agreement that would allow both casinos to provide sports wagering and online gaming. The Mohegan Tribe has already signed on to the agreement, while the Mashantucket Pequots are trying to determine if they want to participate and under what terms.