The Premier 100 IT leaders, named in the news weekly�s May 8 issue, are chosen for their ability to mentor technology talent, think creatively about change and foster the early adoption of technologies that ultimately have a powerful impact on their companies� future, according to Maryfran Johnson, Computerworld editor-in-chief.  �For the Premier 100, Computerworld set out on a groundbreaking, ambitious project to define who the most influential IT leaders are and what makes them tick,� Johnson said. �The dramatic technological changes that Harrah�s Entertainment has made under John Boushy�s leadership exemplify what Computerworld looks for in its Premier 100 honorees.�

Harrah�s Entertainment Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Phil Satre said the award recognizes Boushy�s key contributions to the strategy that has made Harrah�s the leading consumer-marketing company in the gaming industry.

�We�ve invested more than $65 million in technology to implement a world-class customer-loyalty program; sophisticated, information-driven marketing capabilities and differentiated services to customers based upon their expected value,� Satre said. �John�s vision and leadership have been instrumental in building the IT capabilities needed to serve the 19 million customers now in our ever-growing database. Our sophisticated marketing capabilities, supported by IT, have been a critical factor in fueling our double-digit same-store sales growth.� 

Boushy has received many honors during his career with Harrah�s. In 1999, Computerworld ranked Harrah�s Entertainment second among the nation�s 100 best places to work in information technology. In 1994, Boushy was the first casino company executive named by Advertising Age as a Top 100 marketing executive and in the same year was recognized by The Journal of Business Strategy as one of its Top 100 strategists. He is the first and only casino company executive to be selected as a Computerworld Premier 100 IT Leaders. 

In selecting the list, Computerworld�s editorial research unit developed a �leadership index� measuring characteristics of top technology executives. The criteria include a willingness to take calculated risks, the ability to nurture IT staff members with creative work environments and the experience to tie technology to business goals.  �In making our selections, Computerworld searched for the technology and business executives who personify the best in IT leadership, focusing on people whose business vision, entrepreneurial spirit, managerial success or aggressive pursuit of leading-edge IT truly represent the highest ideals of technology professionals,� Johnson said.

A unit of International Data Group, Computerworld, Inc. is a complete information services company for the IT Leader community, providing print and online publications, books, conferences and research services. The company�s flagship weekly newspaper for IT Leaders has been recognized numerous times by Folio: Magazine and the computer Press Association as the best computer newspaper. Computerworld, with a circulation of 250,000, is read by more senior-level managers than any other IT newsweekly, according to IntelliQuest CIMS v.6.0. 

Harrah�s Entertainment, Inc. is the most recognized and respected name in the casino entertainment industry, operating 21 casinos in the United States under the Harrah�s, Showboat, Players and Rio brand names.