Cooke has helmed ASX-listed fintech Tyro,which provides EFTPOS services and business lending,since March 2018 and previously ran lottery company Tatts for five years. He was the managing director of travel booking website Wotif.com from 2006 to 2013.
“I am delighted to have the opportunity to re-join the gaming and hospitality industry,which is a passion of mine and where I have spent the majority of my career,” said Cooke of his appointment,which attracts an annual base salary of $1.6 million.
“There are challenges for The Star that have been well documented. They will be my priority and focus. Ensuring continuity of the business through a comprehensive renewal program is of paramount importance.”
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The Star’s previous chief executive Matt Bekierstood down in March following a public inquiry by the NSW gambling regulator that revealed failures by the group to stem criminal activity and money laundering within its casinos. Chairman John O’Neillresigned in May.
On Monday,lawyers assisting a government inquiry into the casino giant argued Star shouldnot hold a casino licence until it had fully addressed its internal culture and reluctance to admit wrongdoing.
“To date,very little has been said about why these problems have happened,and why the misconduct occurred,” Naomi Sharp,SC,told the last day of the inquiry’s NSW hearings.