Foxwoods Resort Casino will have a new President and CEO in John J James with effect from August 12. The appointment was announced this week by owner the Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Council. James currently serves as COO for Morongo Casino Resort & Spa located in Cabazon.
James succeeds Felix D Rappaport, whose untimely death in June of 2018 led to Tribal Chairman Rodney Butler taking over as the resort’s interim CEO shortly thereafter. With over 25 years of highly successful Native American gaming resort operations experience, James is said by the Tribe to be uniquely positioned to lead Foxwoods into its next evolution as “…the premier entertainment destination in the Northeast”.
Commented Butler: “Over the past decade, Foxwoods transformed the traditional gaming model through a relentless pursuit of guest-first experiences resulting in the only true all-encompassing resort destination. With his proven track record for innovation, John is the right leader to continue that commitment to our guests, fulfill our vision and ignite our passion for delivering a resort that excites and surprises. John perfectly represents our team’s values and beliefs, and we are ready to drive the future of Foxwoods together.”
Speaking about his new role, James said: “Foxwoods is the premier destination in the Northeast and a pioneer in the tribal gaming community, and I’m thrilled to be joining their stellar team. Over the past 27 years, Foxwoods and the Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation have built a world-class resort casino with an unparalleled array of offerings for guests, and I look forward to working with the entire team to continue fortifying Foxwoods’ position as one of North America’s premier resort destinations.”
Prior to joining Morongo Casino Resort & Spa, James was CEO for Gila River Gaming Enterprises where he led the tribe’s three casinos in achieving the highest recorded earnings in the State of Arizona. He also held chief executive roles at Seminole Gaming and Pechanga Resort and Casino. Additionally, he served as a Vice President and General Manager for various successful Station Casinos properties in Las Vegas.
