Churchill Downs Names William Carstanjen CEO - Quick Facts

(RTTNews) - Churchill Downs Inc. (CHDN) Thursday said its board named William Carstanjen as the company's 12th Chief Executive Officer, succeeding Robert Evans who has been in this role since August 2006.

Carstanjen has been the company's President and Chief Operating Officer since March 2011. The firm provides pari-mutuel horse racing, casino gaming, and entertainment services.

Evans will continue as Chairman of the Board of Directors and will continue his full-time, daily involvement in the leadership of the company.

He will focus on strategy, acquisitions, senior management selection and development, technology initiatives, legislative initiatives, and the iconic Kentucky Oaks and Kentucky Derby events.

Carstanjen, 46, spent five-and-a-half years as an attorney at Cravath, Swaine & Moore in New York and five years at General Electric Co. (GE) in Connecticut.

Since joining Churchill Downs in July 2005, Carstanjen served as the company's general counsel and chief development officer from 2005 to 2008, and as Chief Operating Officer from 2008 to 2011 and, most recently as President & Chief Operating Officer.