Redmond CEO At Echo

John Redmond was announced new CEO of Sydney-based casino operator Echo Entertainment.

He continues Echo’s tradition of hiring American executives to top jobs.

Redmond was senior executive at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas and co-chief executive of MGM Grand Mirage.

A lead candidate for the job, Grant Bowie, president of MGM Grand’s Macau operations, pulled out weeks earlier.

Redmond joined Echo’s board in September last year as non-executive director. He comes at a time when rivals James Packer’s Crown and Asian gaming giant Genting apply to increase their stake in Echo, and Packer plans to build a rival casino in Sydney.

One of Redmond’s jobs would be to repair the firm’s relationship with the New South Wales government, after sexual harassment accusations in December 2011 led to the sacking of general manager Sid Vaikunta and a regulatory inquiry.
Redmond’s predecessor, Larry Mullin, leaves his post Jan. 31 and is returning to the United States, according to local media.