Isle of Capri Announces Leadership Change

Creve Coeur-based . announced Tuesday that Virginia McDowell, who currently serves as the company's President and Chief Operating Officer, will succeed James B. Perry as President and Chief Executive Officer at the gaming company, before the end of the year. Perry has been in his current role for three years and will stay on as executive chairman.

In a press release announcing the change, Perry called McDowell ideal for the role. "I have worked with Virginia at a number of major, publicly traded gaming companies for over 25 years, where she amassed significant expertise in our business. She has led our operations through sweeping improvements as chief operating officer, and her dedication to providing the best quality entertainment experience for our customers will serve our company well as we grow into the future," the statement read in part.

McDowell, currently the firm's president and chief operating officer, has been in charge of the company's day-to-day casino operations since July 2007 and came to Isle of Capri after stints with Trump Entertainment Resorts, Inc. and Argosy Gaming Company. McDowell declined interview requests Tuesday, but in the corporate statement, pledged continued fiscal discipline and continuing to work with her predecessor. "Jim Perry has proven himself to be a premier leader and innovator in the gaming industry, and he has also served as an unrivaled mentor for those of us fortunate enough to work with him. I appreciate the confidence the Board has shown in me to lead Isle of Capri in the future, and look forward to continuing the close partnership I have shared with Jim for more than two decades," she said.

Both McDowell and Perry have signed three-year contracts, effective whenever the transition formally takes place, before December 31, 2011. They will remain in their current capacities until that time.