Allegiant Travel Co. CEO and board member John Redmond resigned Sept. 28, company officials said. 

The Las Vegas-based company, which owns the Sunseeker Resort on Charlotte Harbor that is set to open in the fourth quarter of this year, said in a statement Redmond’s resignation was effective immediately and gave no reason for his departure. 

Redmond joined Allegiant’s board in 2007, served as president and took over as CEO last June after a career in the hotel business where he held upper-level jobs at Caesars World and MGM. 

Maurice Gallagher, former CEO, current chairman and one of the company’s largest stockholders, will resume the CEO role he held from 2003 until last year. 

John Redmond

“I am grateful to the board for giving me the opportunity to be part of this incredible organization” Redmond said. “I’m particularly proud of the Sunseeker team we’ve put in place, and I know they will carry the project over the finish line and establish the hotel as a premier destination in Southwest Florida.” 

Gallagher, a commercial airline entrepreneur, co-founded and invested in WestAir and ValuJet and is founder of several nonaviation businesses. He is also the owner of some NASCAR racing teams. 

“We have built a management team headed by Greg Anderson, president, and many other talented and dedicated executives that is among the best in the industry,” Gallagher said in a statement. “This team is well-positioned to lead the company as we continue to set the standard for the U.S. leisure travel sector.” 

Allegiant Air operates out of more than 100 airports across the U.S., including Punta Gorda Airport. In addition to its air operations, the company is in the process of completing construction of its Sunseeker Resort. After construction setbacks due to the COVID-19 pandemic and Hurricane Ian, Sunseeker, a subsidiary of Allegiant Travel Co., is slated to open in the fourth quarter this year. 

Micah Richins will continue his role as president of Sunseeker Resort. 

“We’re excited about completing construction and opening Sunseeker Resort,” Gallagher said. “Industry veteran Micah Richins and his experienced team will continue to lead Sunseeker and we look forward to a successful opening and operation.” 

Richins has an extensive hospitality background. Before joining Sunseeker, Richins operated some of the world’s largest and most successful hotel casino resorts, including MGM Grand, New York-New York and the Luxor in Las Vegas. 

At the opening of the stock market, Allegiant’s stock on the Nasdaq was at $77.79 a share, down from the previous close of $78.25. At 9:30 a.m., it was trading at $78.17.