Steve Wynn resigns from Wynn Resorts after harassment claims

Casino operator Wynn Resorts has announced that its embattled CEO Steve Wynn has stepped down following allegations of sexual harassment against his female employees.

Late Tuesday, Wynn’s board of directors announced that it had “reluctantly” accepted Steve Wynn’s resignation as its CEO and chairman. Wynn president Matt Maddox has been appointed the company’s new CEO, while director Boone Wayson has been named non-executive chairman.

Nearly two weeks ago, the Wall Street Journal published a bombshell report alleging a pattern of sexual harassment by Steve Wynn against Wynn Resorts female staff going back decades. Since then, there’s been a steady drip of followup reports, including allegations that a $7.5m settlement Wynn reached with a manicurist in 2005 involved a paternity claim.

The allegations prompted investigations by gaming regulators in Nevada, Macau and Massachusetts, and it was becoming increasingly apparent that regulators were questioning Steve Wynn’s suitability to remain at the helm of Wynn Resorts, possibly jeopardizing the company’s future operations in these jurisdictions.