Diversified Search Fills Board Positions for Wynn Resorts
April 25, 2018 – Executive search firm Diversified Search has recruited Betsy Atkins, Dee Dee Myers and Wendy Webb as members of the board of directors for Wynn Resorts. Managing director Lauren Smith led the assignment.
“We are pleased to welcome Betsy, Dee Dee and Wendy to the Wynn Resorts board of directors following a thorough search process that included input from shareholders and an independent executive search firm (Diversified),” said D. Boone Wayson, chairman of the Wynn Resorts board of directors. “We are confident that their extensive and wide-ranging expertise will provide fresh and valuable perspectives to support the company’s leadership team and business strategy.”
The appointments, which were made after a lengthy search by the nominating and corporate governance committee, involved interviews of solely independent candidates and advances the company’s commitment to diversify the gender, skills and experience of the board. “These independent directors strengthen the board’s expertise in corporate governance, communications and public affairs, technology, strategic positioning, hospitality and branding,” said Wynn Resorts.
Thirty-six percent of the board’s membership is now women, bringing the company into the top 40 S&P 500 companies in terms of female board representation.
“To be clear, this is the first step in our effort to refresh the board,” said Mr. Wayson. “We intend to add additional new directors in the coming months. The board is committed to enhancing value for our shareholders, delivering superior experiences for customers and creating a supportive and inclusive environment for all of the company’s employees.”
Matt Maddox, CEO of Wynn Resorts, said he was thrilled to welcome the new independent directors. “We have made it a priority to implement meaningful change at Wynn Resorts and are committed to elevating our corporate governance practices and fostering a diverse and inclusive workplace,” he said. “In addition to strengthening our board, these appointments make Wynn a global leader in board diversity.”
New Board Members
Ms. Atkins is recognized as an expert in corporate governance and digital transformation, consumer experience and technology. Her corporate governance experience is extensive and includes technology, retail, financial services, healthcare, restaurants and hospitality, automotive and logistics. Ms. Atkins is founder of Baja Corp., an independent venture capital firm focused on technology, renewable energy and healthcare. Previously, she was CEO of NCI, a creator and manufacturer of nutraceutical foods, such as PowerBar. Before that, she was CEO of Clear Standards. Ms. Atkins serves on the boards of Cognizant, SL Green Realty, Schneider Electric and Volvo Cars.
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Ms. Myers has extensive experience in corporate responsibility, communications and corporate and public positioning. She serves as executive vice president for worldwide corporate communications and public affairs at Warner Bros. Entertainment, where she leads the company’s strategic communications, positioning, corporate responsibility and philanthropy programs. Ms. Myers was the first woman to serve as White House press secretary, during President Bill Clinton’s first term. She has worked as an analyst, commentator and writer, as well as a contributing editor for Vanity Fair magazine.
Ms. Webb has significant industry experience in travel and tourism, hospitality, media and entertainment, retailing, consumer products, e-commerce and other sectors. She is CEO of Kestrel Advisors, which advises corporations on growth initiatives, governance, investor relations and strategic issues. Her background includes 20 years as a senior executive at the Walt Disney Company, including as SVP of investor relations and shareholder services. She also served as executive director of the Walt Disney Company Foundation. Ms. Webb is currently a director of ABM Industries and 9 Spokes. Previously, she was on the board of TiVo and of Jack In The Box. She is co-chair of nonprofit organization Women Corporate Directors in Los Angeles.
Headquartered in Las Vegas, Wynn Resorts is a developer and operator of high end hotels and casinos. It owns and operates Wynn Las Vegas, Wynn Macau and Wynn Palace, Cotai.
Veteran Recruiters
Headquartered in Philadelphia, Diversified Search is the largest U.S. female-owned and -founded firm in the executive recruitment industry. It has offices in Atlanta, Chicago, Cleveland, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, San Francisco and Washington, D.C. Diversified is the U.S. partner of AltoPartners, an international alliance of 58 independent executive search firms that spans 35 countries across the Americas, Europe, the Middle East, Africa and Asia Pacific.
Ms. Smith, who works from the firm’s Miami office, conducts senior-level executive search assignments for clients ranging from high-growth early-stage organizations to multinational corporations, specializing in working with companies that are growing and/or transforming into new markets and businesses.
She has placed executives and/or board members at clients such as Apple, Citrix, Comfort Systems, DHL, Kaplan Inc., Novell, Office Depot, Polyconcept, Ryder, Sheridan Healthcare, Tupperware and Winn-Dixie. In addition, Ms. Smith recently co-led board searches for a number of Fortune 500 boards, including Jacobs Engineering Corp. Fifth Third Bank, and Navient Corp.
Contributed by Scott A. Scanlon, Editor-in-Chief; Dale M. Zupsansky, Managing Editor; Stephen Sawicki, Managing Editor; and Will Schatz, Managing Editor – Hunt Scanlon Media
