Embattled casino operator Imperial Pacific International (CNMI) LLC is eying former Saipan senator Ray N. Yumul to become its new Chief Executive Officer following the sudden departure of Donald Browne last month.
Browne, who was only appointed CEO in July 2020 after being ordered by the Commonwealth Casino Commission (CCC) to appoint someone to the top job within 15 days, recently revealed in court that he had stepped down as of 17 December.
But unlike last time, when IPI went more than six months without a CEO following the resignation of Browne’s predecessor Mark Brown, the company is wasting no time in hiring a replacement.
According to local media reports, IPI has reached a verbal agreement with Yumul who must now apply for a key-employee license with the CCC of he is to assume the role.
Yumul himself told media, “We’ll see,” when asked about the possible appointment adding he, “is open to these discussions.”
According to Marianas Variety, CCC Chairman Edward C. Deleon Guerrero told IPI on Wednesday that its new CEO must “make sure that he will be the head of the local IPI operations, and that he truly understands, has truly read and, if necessary, has sought legal assistance to understand the gaming law. There is no other way getting around it but to fully understand it.”