Seneca Gaming Corp. President & CEO Holly Gagnon to leave company

Seneca Gaming Corp. on Tuesday announced the appointment of Chief Financial Officer David Sheridan as interim president and CEO. Former CEO Holly Gagnon’s contract expires May 31.

There are no other anticipated leadership changes at this time.

"The board of directors thanks Holly for her integral role in shaping Seneca Gaming Corp. for the future. Under her leadership, we have remained competitive in an ever-saturated marketplace and have seen a positive shift in our company’s culture and our team member engagement. For this we are grateful,” said Klint Nephew, vice chairman of the board of directors.

Gagnon said, “It has been a privilege to work with the amazing team members of the Seneca Gaming Corp. these past three years. I am so proud of everything we have accomplished together and am confident this company will thrive when this world gets back to normal. I look forward to spending more time focused on my independent directorship roles, as well as projects related to women in leadership here in Buffalo.”

Since 2017, under Gagnon’s leadership, Seneca Gaming Corp. successfully completed several projects, including the transformative $40 million “Seneca Niagara Arrival Experience” at Seneca Niagara Resort & Casino, the introduction of sports betting at all three of the Seneca Casinos as well as the redesign of the hotel rooms for the Seneca Allegany Resort & Casino.

"The Seneca Nation is grateful for Holly’s leadership, and we wish her nothing but continued success in the future," Seneca Nation President Rickey Armstrong Sr. said. "David Sheridan has been a trusted and respected leader with Seneca Gaming Corp. for more than a decade. The Nation must continue to plan for the safe and successful reopening of our gaming facilities, which are an important economic engine for the Seneca people. We have every confidence in David’s knowledge, experience and ability to lead our gaming operations forward, in partnership with the company’s board of directors and management team.”

Seneca Gaming Corp. is a wholly owned, tribally chartered corporation of the Seneca Nation of Indians, which operates the Nation’s Class III casino gaming properties. Since opening Seneca Niagara Casino in 2002, the corporation has built and invested in the community at large by providing three premier gaming and entertainment destinations in Western New York:  Seneca Niagara Resort & Casino in Niagara Falls; Seneca Buffalo Creek Casino in downtown Buffalo; and Seneca Allegany Resort & Casino in Salamanca; as well as the award-winning championship Seneca Hickory Stick Golf Course in Lewiston.

Since 2002, the corporation has grown into one of the largest private sector employers in Western New York with over 3,700 employees across its three locations. For more information, visit SenecaGamingCorporation.com.