Papadopoulos Called interim CEO as AGA seeks Freeman successor

After the June 5 statement that American Gaming Association (AGA) president and Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Geoff Freeman, are departing the casino sector trade lobby group to become the new president and CEO for the Grocery Manufacturers Association (GMA) on August 1, the body has now named general counsel and industry services senior vice president, Stacy Papadopoulos (pictured), as interim CEO until such time as a replacement for Freeman is located, according to a Wednesday press release.

The statement earlier this month by the AGA and GMA, communicated that Freeman, who has been with the Washington, D.C. trade group since May 2013, and has led the lobbying effort in Washington, DC, to repeal the federal ban on sports betting, would keep his position at the end of July, during that time the series procedure is going to be launched.

From the Wednesday press release, the AGA announced the formation of a seven-member search committee which would be responsible for choosing its next chief executive. Led by AGA board of manager ’s manhood and Chief Executive Officer of Penn National Gaming, Inc. , Tim Wilmott, the committee’s members include: Jim Murren, chairman and CEO of MGM Resorts International; Mark Frissora, president and CEO of Caesars Entertainment Corp.; Trevor Croker, CEO and managing director of Aristocrat Leisure Ltd.; Greg Carlin, co-founder and CEO of Rush Street Gambling; Bill Lance, Jr., secretary of commerce of Chickasaw Nation; and Ron Reese, senior vice president, international communications and corporate affairs at Las Vegas Sands Corp..

Of Freeman’s death, Wilmott stated, “We are grateful to Geoff for his leadership during the last five years and we want to thank Stacy for taking the helm of the AGA while we identify its next CEO.

The search is going to be directed by Leslie Hortum, managing director for executive consulting firm Spencer Stuart, that will encourage the hunt to find the next CEO of what is the premier national trade group that represents the $261 billion U.S. casino market.