Former casino executive Richard Mirman named interim publisher of Orange County Register

The Orange County Register has hired former casino executive Richard Mirman to be its interim publisher and chief executive.

The newspaper said Monday night that Mirman will take over for Aaron Kushner, who will remain principal owner and CEO of the Register's parent company, Freedom Communications.

The 48-year-old Mirman is a former executive at Nevada-based casino and resort operator Harrah's Entertainment who worked in several marketing positions from 1997 to 2007.

Mirman says his goal as publisher is to get the Register "on a trajectory of growth."

His arrival comes amid struggles for Freedom Communications, which recently shut down the Los Angeles Register just a few months after it began publication.

Mirman will head both the Register and the Riverside Press-Enterprise.

Kushner's co-owner, Eric Spitz, will also remain with Freedom.