The Star’s chief executive Robbie Cooke told staff late on Friday he would step down with a “heavy heart” after 18 months at the battered casino giant. He said he believed The Star would be unlikely to regain its coveted casino licence from the NSW regulator while he was at the helm. Newly minted chair David Forster will act as executive chair until a replacement for Cooke is found.
Loading
“It also seems that the Chief Commissioner did not consider I was moving with sufficient speed with the reforms and changes being implemented at The Star – a view with which I respectfully and fundamentally disagree,” Cooke told staff on Monday.
Former chief financial officer Christina Katsibouba also resigned on Friday after pressure from the regulator and investors who believe The Star needs to part with all the executives who had formerly held senior roles before it was disgraced by Bell’s first inquiry. Launched after aninvestigation by theHerald,The Age and60 Minutesin 2021,that inquiry confirmed extensive anti-money laundering and counterterrorism failings.
Katsibouba,company secretary Jennie Yuen,head of customer George Hughes and chief of staff Peter Jenkins all retained senior leadership positions at The Star as the second inquiry was announced. The business also promoted Jessica Mellor to head the Gold Coast casino. Mellor was formerly the chief operating officer of the broader business.
But as of Friday,only Yuen and Mellor remain in their positions. Hughes resigned two weeks ago and Jenkins also stepped down on Friday after a decade at the group.