Fayetteville, N.C. — The chief executive of Cumberland County's main entertainment venue resigned Thursday amid an ongoing investigation.

Paul Beard Jr. will remain on paid leave through the end of the year, when his resignation becomes effective, officials said. He will continue to draw his $101,400 salary during that time.

The Cumberland County Civic Center Commission last month suspended Beard; Windy Lawson, the coliseum's marketing and sales director; and Herman Bullard, director of the Cumberland County Fair.

Officials have declined to disclose the reason for the suspensions, saying only that they had received complaints of wrongdoing from several people.

County officials have finished interviewing people in their investigations of the complaints, but no decisions have been made, officials said.