Kirk Kerkorian is to leave the MGM Resorts International board to become the company's first director emeritus.
As director emeritus, Kerkorian, 93, will serve as a senior advisor to both MGM Resorts management and the board and will have a standing invitation to attend any meeting of the board or its executive committee. He will not, however, retain any voting rights on board matters.
"Kirk’s contributions to the growth and development of MGM Resorts are far too many to detail," said MGM Resorts’ chairman and CEP, James Murren. "Of even greater impact, however, have been the contributions of his time, talent and treasure to so many throughout the Las Vegas community, across the US and around the world."
Kerkorian, who first arrived in Las Vegas as a pilot in 1945, ventured into the gaming business with a stake in the Dunes Hotel in 1955. In the 1960s, he acquired land for further development and by the end of the decade his International Leisure company was opening what was then the largest hotel in the world, the International Hotel.
In 1973, he opened the original MGM Grand Hotel, which is now Bally’s. Following its sale to Bally’s in 1986, Kerkorian led the development of the current MGM Grand Hotel and in 2000 he acquired Mirage Resorts and merged it four years later with Mandalay Resorts under the name MGM Mirage.
"One of the most rewarding aspects of my life has been my association with MGM Resorts and its predecessor companies," he said. "I am deeply indebted to the hundreds of thousands of men and women who have worked for our companies through these many years.
"Their hard work and dedication to success created the extraordinary opportunity to share our success with others. It has been a privilege to work with them all and I look forward to continuing to regularly consult with Jim and the board of this wonderful company."
