Hard Rock Atlantic City installs Joe Lupo as new president

Casino operator Hard Rock International (HRI) has replaced the president of its new Atlantic City venue just a few months after the property opened its doors.

Late Monday, the Press of Atlantic City reported that the Florida-based HRI had replaced Hard Rock Atlantic City president Matt Harkness with industry veteran Joe Lupo (pictured). No reason was provided for the executive shuffle, which will officially take place on November 1.

HRI’s COO Jon Lucas thanked Lucas for his work in overseeing the “successful” transformation of the former Trump Taj Mahal into the new Hard Rock Atlantic City. Harkness is being reassigned to unspecified “new responsibilities” within the HRI family.

Lupo, who currently serves as president of HRI’s Seminole Hard Rock casino property in Tampa, joined HRI in January 2017 after a 13-year stint as senior VP at Atlantic City’s market-leading Borgata Casino Hotel.