Raymond C. Avansino Jr. has been appointed...

Raymond C. Avansino Jr. has been appointed president and chief operating officer of Hilton Hotels Corp., Beverly Hills.

Avansino, 49, a former member of the Nevada Gaming Commission and a director of the hotel-casino company since 1986, succeeds Barron Hilton as president. Hilton remains chairman and chief executive. The chief operating officer’s post is newly created.