The Osage Nation Gaming Enterprise Board (ONGEB) has announced that Byron Bighorse is stepping down after nearly a decade as CEO of Osage Casinos. In a company release, no reasoning was provided for his departure.
Kimberly Pearson has been named as Bighorse’s successor, becoming the first woman to lead the company, which oversees a total of seven properties.
Bighorse had been with Osage since 2006, and had served as CEO since late 2014. In a statement, he said that the recent decision “has not come lightly, but it is ultimately the best path forward for Osage Casinos and my family.”
“I truly have had the pleasure of seeing the company grow as it has in the last 17 years that I have been here,” Bighorse added. “I look forward to seeing what more Osage Casinos can accomplish in the future.”
Pearson, who most recently served as COO for Osage, first joined the company back in 2008. She is also a member of the Osage Nation.
In a statement, ONGEB Chairman Geoff Hager said, “Mrs. Pearson has played a critical role in the success of the enterprise over the last several years, and as the first female CEO, it is a tremendous point of pride for us and we look forward to continued momentum under the leadership of Mrs. Pearson. Our board’s priority has always been—and will continue to be—to provide critical funding for the Osage Nation.”
