MCE appoint Crawford to the board as two others depart

Melco Crown Entertainment Ltd. (MCE) last night announced the appointment of John William Crawford as an independent non-executive director of the company with immediate effect. Crawford will also become a member of the audit and risk committee, compensation committee and the nominating and corporate governance committee of MCE, according to a statement from the casino operator.

The newly appointed executive has been the managing director of Crawford Consultants Ltd and International Quality Education Ltd since 1997 and 2002 respectively.

He has been broadly involved in the education sector in Asia, including the setting up of international schools and providing consulting services to them. Crawford was a member and a governor for many years of the Canadian International School of Hong Kong and remains active in overseeing other similar, pre- university schools.

“We are extremely fortunate to have John [Crawford] join the Board at MCE. He has exceptional experience and we look forward to the benefit of his thought and counsel,” said chairman and chief executive officer of MCE, Lawrence Ho.

Separately, two incumbent executives in MCE’s upper management have tendered their resignations.

Robert Mactier, who was appointed as an independent non-executive director in December 2006, has tendered his resignation with immediate effect, while James MacKenzie, also appointed to the same position in December 2006, will leave the company next month to assist MCE in the transition of his responsibilities.

According to the MCE statement, both MacKenzie and Mactier have resigned because “they wish to reduce their workloads so as to be able to devote greater time and focus to their many other businesses and charitable commitments.”

According to MCE, both of the independent non-executive directors said that their resignations are not in any way linked to disagreements with the company.

Last month, James Packer’s Crown Resorts sold down its stake in the MCE joint venture as part of a general retreat from the company’s international assets. The total value of the sell-off amounted to around USD1.9 billion and saw Crown Resort’s stake in MCE drop from 27.4 percent to 11.2 percent.