New CEO at Trump casino company

Donald Trump has fired the chief executive officer of his casino company, just as it entered a critical point in sale negotiations.

Jim Perry, who came out of retirement to run Trump Hotels and Casino Resorts when it emerged from Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection two years ago, was let go on Friday, sources familiar with the move told The Star-Ledger.

Mark Juliano, the company’s chief operating officer, will take the helm for now.

Trump made mention of the move during a VIP celebration of his birthday at the Trump Taj Mahal Saturday night. Before awarding several $ 5,000 cash prizes to high rollers, Trump called Juliano to the stage and said he had been promoted.

Neither would comment further after the party.

Perry had been credited with turning around Argosy Gaming when he was chief executive of the Illinois riverboat company. But shareholders had become frustrated at the slow pace of Trump Resorts‘ turnaround.

Perry’s frequent absences from Atlantic City also drew the ire of Trump. Perry had split his time between A.C., where he worked, and California, where his family lived.

The management shakeup comes just as Trump Resorts is in negotiations with Dennis Gomes, a former Atlantic City casino executive, and Morris Bailey a real estate developer, who want to buy the company.