London Clubs International plc have been through some troubling times recently. Their overseas operations have usually performed well but their venture into Nevada gaming territory with the Aladdin nearly brought the company to its knees.

A £49 million rescue rights issue and the sale of the Las Vegas property to Planet Hollywood, overseen by Bill Timmons since he was named President and Chief Operating Operator for Aladdin Resort and Casino, has at last seen the company make a recovery and place it in a good position to take advantage of the possibilities forseen for the gaming industry post deregulation in the UK.

Bill Timmons, 57, has spent over 30 years in gaming and joined LCI in March 1996, two years after the company was publicly quoted on the London Stock Exchange. As Director of International Operations he had responsibility for establishing and operating the Group's overseas ventures. In 1999 he was appointed to the Board and later appointed to the Board of Directors for Aladdin Gaming LLC. steering the Resort and Casino through Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in the US.

Barry Hardy, Chief Operating Officer of LCI since June 1999, becomes Deputy Chairman of the company with executive powers. Michael Becket, the non-executive Chairman, is quoted as saying that the return of Bill Timmons to the UK "could not have come at a better time."

The appointment of Bill Timmons as LCI's Chief Executive, with his wide experience of large US operations having extensive slot machine business, should help move the company forward towards the new challenges on the horizon.

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