MGM National Harbor taps former marketing chief as president and COO
Gumiela was vice-president of marketing at the resort from 2017 to 2020
MGM National Harbor has appointed Chris Gumiela as president and chief operating officer, returning him to the Maryland resort after several years overseeing digital operations for MGM Resorts.
On Monday, it was announced that Gumiela would succeed Melonie Johnson, who has retired. He will lead the resort’s day-to-day operations and set its strategic direction, with employee engagement and community relations identified by the company as priorities.
“I’m thrilled to be back in the DMV and look forward to expanding the ways MGM National Harbor serves as an entertainment capital for our region and a pillar in community engagement for Prince George’s County,” Gumiela said.
A shared history
Gumiela previously served as the resort’s vice-president of marketing from August 2017 to July 2020, shortly after it opened. MGM said he helped establish the property’s brand and develop civic and community partnerships.
The company also credited his tenure with contributing to nearly $1 billion in property-wide revenue.
Since 2021, Gumiela has been senior vice-president of interactive operations at MGM Resorts, working to coordinate the company’s digital BetMGM business with its land-based resorts.
He has also served on the steering committee for LeoVegas, the online gaming company acquired by MGM Resorts in 2022, and joined MGM’s Capital Committee in 2026.
Earlier in his career, Gumiela was vice-president of marketing and advertising for MGM’s regional portfolio, overseeing strategy and operational efficiencies at National Harbor and Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa in Atlantic City.
He joined MGM Resorts in 2006 through its Management Associate Programme, undertaking cross-functional training at Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas.
He later held roles in slot marketing, casino marketing, corporate marketing operations and brand strategy at Monte Carlo Resort & Casino, now Park MGM.
Elsewhere in the business
The executive change comes only a few weeks after MGM confirmed they would not be acquiring Barry Diller’s People Inc, the largest shareholder in MGM.
Additionally overseas, a recent assessment has suggested that MGM Osaka may need 1,645 foreign workers by its third year of operation, highlighting the scale of the staffing challenge facing Japan’s first integrated resort on Yumeshima.
MGM Osaka remains scheduled to launch in 2030, with the review focused on the execution of the approved plan rather than a fresh authorisation. Construction began in Spring of last year.
