Gaming giant names chairman

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Friday, Aug. 31, 2001 | 11:04 a.m.

LONDON -- Hotel and gaming company Hilton Group PLC named Ian Robinson chairman to succeed John Jackson, and reported better-than-expected first-half earnings.

Robinson will take over as chairman Oct. 1, when Jackson retires.

Robinson joined the British hotel and gaming company, owner of the Ladbrokes gambling brand, as a board member and deputy chairman in April, leaving his post as chief executive of Scottish Power PLC.

Hilton Group today also reported a half-year pretax profit, excluding charges, of $209.24 million, up from $157.76 million a year ago, beating analysts expectations.

The company said reforms to the British gaming industry and Internet gaming should help drive growth, offsetting the short-term slowdown in hotel business.

Hilton Group's international hotel operations reported occupancy levels of 66.9 percent for the first half, down from 68.1 percent last year.

Hilton Group is unrelated to U.S. lodging and gambling giants Hilton Hotels Corp. and Park Place Entertainment Corp., which use the Hilton brand in the United States.