Wynn Resorts Executive Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary Ellen Whittemore says the company remains fully committed to changes it made to its corporate structure and culture in the wake of the Steve Wynn sexual misconduct scandal.
Whittemore was one of Wynn Resorts’ key additions as part of a sweeping overhaul to its Board of Directors and executive team in 2018, replacing long-time General Counsel Kim Sinatra in the role.
Steve Wynn stepped down as Chairman and CEO soon after allegations of sexual misconduct became public in early 2018, later selling off his entire 12.1% stake in the company.
Wynn Resorts was hit with a record US$20 million fine by the Nevada Gaming Commission in February 2019, and another US$35 million fine by the Massachusetts Gaming Commission three months later, for failing to investigate claims of sexual harassment by multiple women against its founder
The Wynn Resorts board has since undergone a raft of changes since Wynn’s departure, including the appointment of former Harrah’s CEO Phil Satre as Chairman and the introduction of four new female board members, along with the arrival of Whittemore.
Speaking on the latest edition of a web series produced by Gaming Labaroties International titled “Illuminating Conversations”, Whittemore – who is also an officer of the International Association of Gaming Advisors, board member of Global Gaming Women and as of this year chairwoman of the Nevada Resort Association – said Wynn Resorts remains fully committed to its transformation into a more diverse and inclusive company.
“This entire C-suite is committed to the changes that we had made as a result of the circumstances, so we are really committed to diversity and inclusion and to preventing sexual harassment and really embracing and encouraging women in the workplace,” she said.
“We also have a monitor who monitors how we respond to claims of sexual harassment.”
Asked how Wynn Resorts views diversity, Whittemore admitted it was an ongoing process of development for the company, particularly at the executive level.
“We know that we benefit from diversity of thought so one of the things that we look for is diversity across our entire organisation,” she said.
“We are very diverse as an organization and are working to become more diverse at the senior levels of our organization.
“The reason you want to do that is people who come from different experiences and different backgrounds bring different ideas to the table. If you are all the same you may all have the same ideas and that maybe isn’t what you need.
“You don’t want people who are exactly the same in a room making decisions.”
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