Harrah’s technology executive leaving company
Tim Stanley, Harrah’s Entertainment’s top technology guru, is leaving the company after what he describes as “much reflection … for personal and professional reasons.”
Stanley Thursday declined to discuss specific reasons for his departure or to say what he’ll do next.
The casino company is expected to officially announce the departure later today or early next week.
As chief innovation officer and senior vice president of innovation, gaming and technology, Stanley oversaw Harrah’s largest corporate-level organization, information technology, at the corporate offices and 50 casinos worldwide.
Stanley, who joined the company in February 2001, focused on how technology could be used to improve the company’s interaction with its customers and grow the company without multibillion-dollar brick and mortar investments.
The latest large technology launch guided by Stanley was the partnership with Microsoft Corp. to customize the technology company’s Surface tables.
The wireless table-top computers were launched at the Rio’s iBar in June.
He also worked on improving customer interaction through improved technologies utilizing the Total Rewards player card, mobile devices, in room technologies, and RFID-based technologies.
Harrah’s received some criticism in 2006 when it started using RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) tags on cocktail waitresses at the Rio.
The company said the technology was used to improve service times and improve staffing needs.
A representative for the American Civil Liberties Union in Nevada told the Business Press in January 2006 the practice “was a little bit creepy, and another step toward people being watched constantly," but not a constitutional violation.
The company has since expanded its use of RFID into additional pilot programs at additional properties including tracking live table-game play.
To read previous articles about Harrah’s partnership with Microsoft Corp.,
