LAS VEGAS, Nov. 1, 2018 -- Caesars Entertainment Corporation (NASDAQ: CZR) today announced that President and Chief Executive Officer Mark P. Frissora is leaving the Company, having led a successful operational and financial transformation and established a platform for future growth. To support a seamless transition, Mr. Frissora will remain in his current role until February 8, 2019.
The four members of the Compensation and Management Development Committee as well as the Chairman of the Board will work with a nationally recognized search firm to identify Mr. Frissora's successor.
"The Board of Directors thanks Mark for his instrumental role in leading the Company through a challenging period and setting Caesars on a course for sustained, long-term growth and value creation," said Jim Hunt, Chairman of the Board of Directors. "Under Mark's leadership, the Company has significantly improved margins and profitability while simultaneously increasing customer and employee satisfaction. We are grateful for his leadership and numerous contributions and are optimistic for the future."
Mr. Frissora said, "I have been privileged to lead this iconic Company and am proud of all that our team has accomplished. Together, we navigated a complex restructuring process. We have improved our margins significantly and created enterprise value which enabled the successful reorganization of our Caesars Entertainment Operating Company subsidiary. I am confident that the Company is well positioned to thrive and grow in the future. I am committed to maintaining stability and operating discipline during this transition."
Under Mr. Frissora's leadership, Caesars implemented strategies resulting in a 900 basis points increase in adjusted EBITDAR margin and a nearly $800 million increase in adjusted EBITDAR. The Company has completed the renovation of approximately 70% of the hotel rooms across its network and launched various organic and inorganic growth initiatives, including the acquisition of Centaur Holdings, LLC, expansion into Dubai, the planned development of Caesars' first resort in Mexico and the pursuit of a license in Japan.
During Mr. Frissora's tenure, the Company has also significantly deleveraged its balance sheet and simplified its capital structure. Since 2014, prior to the restructuring of Caesars Entertainment Operating Company, Caesars has reduced the cost of its debt by 400 basis points and is committed to further deleveraging. In the same period, the Company reduced annual fixed charges, including interest expense, by $1.4 billion.
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About Caesars Entertainment Corporation
Caesars Entertainment is the world's most diversified casino-entertainment provider and the most geographically diverse U.S. casino-entertainment company. Since its beginning in Reno, Nevada, in 1937, Caesars Entertainment has grown through development of new resorts, expansions and acquisitions and its portfolio of subsidiaries now operate 49 casino properties in 13 U.S. states and five countries. Caesars Entertainment's resorts operate primarily under the Caesars®, Harrah's® and Horseshoe® brand names. Caesars Entertainment's portfolio also includes the Caesars Entertainment UK family of casinos. Caesars Entertainment is focused on building loyalty and value with its guests through a unique combination of great service, excellent products, unsurpassed distribution, operational excellence and technology leadership. Caesars Entertainment is committed to environmental sustainability and energy conservation and recognizes the importance of being a responsible steward of the environment. For more information, please visit www.caesars.com/corporate.
