MASHANTUCKET, Conn. (AP) - The head of a Connecticut casino resigned after only eight months on the job.
The Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Council confirmed Tuesday that John James, president and chief executive officer of Foxwoods Resort Casino in Mashantucket, stepped down.
James, 59, left the role to spend more time with his family during the coronavirus pandemic that has spread throughout the state and shut down major businesses, the council said.
Jason Guyot, Foxwoods senior vice president of resort operations, has agreed to act as interim CEO while a search for James’ successor takes place, the casino said.
James became the president and CEO of the company in August 2019 after being appointed to succeed Felix Rappaport, who died of an apparent heart attack in June 2018.
Foxwoods and its tribal gaming rival, the Mohegan Sun, voluntarily closed their casinos on March 17 at the urging of Gov. Ned Lamont.
As of Tuesday, another 1,779 people have been hospitalized in the state with the coronavirus, and just under 14,000 people have tested positive. A total of 671 people have died from complications of the virus.
The casinos recently extended their closure to April 30 but with the continuous spread of the virus, it is unclear when they will open back up. The closure resulted in more than 5,000 employees being furloughed.
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