John Payne, regional president for Harrah's Entertainment Inc., who was in charge of the company's four Atlantic City casinos, was named president of the company's Central Division this week, replacing Anthony Sanfillippo.

Payne, 37, will be based in New Orleans and is expected to start his new job next month.

Harrah's spokeswoman Alyce Parker said the regional president's position in Atlantic City would remain vacant, and employees who reported to Payne would now report to Carlos Tolosa, the Eastern Division president.

Payne was president of the Gulf Coast region for Harrah's before arriving in Atlantic City almost a year ago.. In his previous position, he oversaw relief efforts for the company's 17,000 casino employees in the Gulf Region who were displaced after Hurricanes Rita and Katrina.