Elliott leaving MGM for Reid’s office

Rob Elliott, vice president of government affairs for MGM Mirage, is leaving the company after 15 years to take a job with Sen. Harry Reid, D-Nev.

According to Reid's office, he will be deputy director of the Southern Nevada office, with responsibilities including outreach to the business community.

Alan Feldman, the company's senior vice president of public affairs, called Elliott "a unique individual who has an incredible insight and instinct for public policy" and has "been extremely instrumental in helping us frame important public policy matters as well as helping us work with policymakers at the state and federal level."

Elliott starts the new gig May 1. He said he's looking forward to returning to the public sector, from whence he came before his entree into corporate life, and doesn't mind the pay cut it will entail.

"I feel like right now I'm very compelled to do whatever I can to help Nevadans through this tough time we're in," Elliott said. "It feels right."

Here's the e-mail Feldman sent to the staff:

Friends:

After 15 stellar years with our company, Rob Elliott, our VP of Government Affairs, has made the decision to leave MGM MIRAGE at the end of the month to accept an exciting position with Senator Harry Reid’s Nevada office.

Rob’s accomplishments with our company are many and he leaves behind a legacy of professionalism and integrity that is unmatched among his peers. I’m also going to miss terribly his ability to infuse any topic with his unique sense of humor.

Fortunately for our company, in 2007 Rob hired Sara Rayme, who has been our Manager of Legislative Affairs since joining MGM MIRAGE. I am pleased to announce that Sara has been promoted to the position of Executive Director of Government Affairs. Sara has proven herself to be an incredible asset to our team and I have absolute confidence that she will succeed brilliantly in this new role.

Please join me in wishing Rob all the best and congratulating Sara on her promotion.

Alan