Just hours after receiving a preliminary approval for a second casino license on Australia’s Gold Coast, Echo Entertainment announced that Aaron Gomes is being dismissed as managing director of the current Gold Coast property, Jupiters.
Gomes, the son of late Atlantic City gaming legend Dennis Gomes, left Resorts Atlantic City to take the Jupiters job in 2012, shortly after the elder Gomes, who was Resorts’ co-owner, died suddenly.
After receiving the new Gold Coast license, Echo announced that Geoff Hogg, managing director of the operator’s Treasury Casino in Brisbane, will be given an expanded role that includes oversight of the Jupiters property, essentially squeezing Gomes out. Hogg will oversee the coming $345 million refurbishment of the Jupiters property.
Echo thanked Gomes for his service, but offered no specifics concerning reasons for the management change. However, new Echo CEO Matt Bekier, who took over the company in April, has instituted several management changes, including switching corporate CFOs.
