Cooke,who joined the group on the day its casino licence was stripped in NSW,in October 2022,was appointed CEO after leading Tyro Payments and promised a cultural overhaul and redirection. However,he faced multiple setbacks including complicated tax proposals in NSW,complications with its Queens Wharf joint-venture in Queensland and a longer-than-expected casino licence renewal campaign for its three premises.
Cooke told staff,in a note seen by this masthead,he had decided to step down with “considerable reluctance and a heavy heart”.
He added that he believed the head of the NSW Independent Casino Commission,Philip Crawford “had issues” with his decision to retain a number of existing executives on the senior leadership team. The NSW regulator told this masthead last month it would commence a second inquiry into The Star as it was still not satisfied there had been sufficient cultural change to warrant a restoration of its state casino licence.
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“Noting these individuals were not on The Star’s executive committee at the time the offending conduct identified in the original Bell inquiry occurred,and I am not aware of any basis to suggest they were bad actors. Secondly,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 said in the note.
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.