Boyd Gaming Echelon Place execs named

LAS VEGAS, Nevada – (PRESS RELEASE) -- Boyd Gaming Corporation (NYSE: BYD) today announced two senior executive appointments for its Echelon Place executive team. Echelon Resorts has tapped Peter Finamore and Sid Vaikunta, both of whom played a key role in the breakthrough success of Borgata, the Company's joint venture in Atlantic City. Echelon Resorts is a subsidiary of Boyd Gaming and is developing Echelon Place, a multi-faceted destination featuring approximately 5,000 guest rooms and suites within five unique hotels, each offering a distinct luxury experience, as well as meeting and convention space, a retail promenade and two entertainment venues.

The Company has appointed Peter Finamore senior vice president of operations and Sid Vaikunta senior vice president of operations and marketing for Echelon Resorts

Prior to joining Echelon, Peter Finamore served as vice president of hospitality at Borgata. During his professional career in hospitality, Finamore held top executive positions with both the Peninsula Group and Hilton Hotels. A native of Canada, Finamore holds a Bachelor of Commerce degree from Concordia University in Montreal.

Sid Vaikunta previously held the position of vice president of marketing for Borgata where he oversaw all aspects of marketing, including public relations, advertising, casino and poker marketing, special events and nightlife marketing. Vaikunta has a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Massachusetts and a Masters of Management in Hospitality from Cornell University.

The newly appointed executives will complement the current Echelon Place executive and development teams, which include David Farlin, vice president and chief information officer; Cassie Fireman, vice president of talent; Ron Frye, vice president construction; John Lin, vice president development; Bob Marra, vice president construction; Michael Mathis, vice president general counsel; Kevin Sullivan, senior vice president and chief administrative officer; and Gus Tejeda, vice president sales.

Commenting on the appointments, Bob Boughner, president and chief executive officer of Echelon Resorts, said, "In keeping with our desire to bring together the industry's best talent, expertise and leadership, each of these executives brings to Echelon an extensive level of experience and a great depth of understanding of the hospitality and gaming areas. They also bring award-winning experience in the fields of operations, technology and human resources to Echelon Place, a development which we believe will help to shape the next generation of Las Vegas luxury."