MGM Resorts International has offered a seat on its board to Paul Salem, senior managing director of Providence Equity. It had to purchase another chair for Salem, though, as his addition brought the total number of directors up from 12 to 13, after increasing the number of directors last year from ten to 12.

Salem is reportedly the man that helped Providence, a leading investment firm for the media, education and communications sectors, grow from having $60 million in assets under management to around $170 million. In a statement by MGM Resorts Chairman and CEO Jim Murren, “Mr. Salem is a distinguished leader with over 26 years of experience in the financial services industry. Paul brings invaluable insight in corporate finance and asset management, and his strong track record of value creation has earned him an outstanding reputation within the investment and not-for-profit communities.”

Last year, MGM added two more positions to the board. According to Murren, “These appointments underscore the company’s commitment to proactively enhance its board and ensure that we have an appropriate mix of skills, experience and perspectives to successfully grow our business and drive sustainable value creation.”

Salem became part of the Providence Equity team in 1992. Prior to that, he had been working in the corporate finance, mergers and acquisition division for Morgan Stanley and at Prudential Investment Corp. in its private placement financings and leveraged buyout transactions division.