The CEO of Star Entertainment Group’s Sydney casino, Scott Wharton, has resigned after just eight months in the role.
The short-lived CEO, who also leads the group’s transformation division, is set to leave the company on 28 April for a new role as CEO of the salary packaging business Smartgroup, which he will begin on 17 July, according to the Sydney Morning Herald.
The Star’s CEO and managing director Robbie Cooke said a restructure would follow Wharton’s resignation with two new appointments to be made.
“We are well positioned to announce shortly Scott’s successor as CEO for The Star Sydney.”
Nicola Burke, the group’s current general manager transformation office, will take over Wharton’s role as the chief transformation officer.
The Star Sydney overhauled its executive team and board after an investigation revealed allegations of anti-money laundering and counter-terrorism failings.
“We still have a lot of work ahead, but the board and the management team have an unwavering focus on proving our suitability to hold casino licences in NSW and QLD,” Cooke said.
Wharton thanked Cooke and the teams he worked with during his time with the group.
“It has been hugely rewarding to contribute alongside so many committed, hard-working leaders and team members,” he said.
In September 2022, an inquiry into the Star Entertainment Group, led by Adam Bell SC, found that “a number of extremely serious governance, risk management and cultural failures of The Star Entities occurred”, leaving the inquiry to deem the Star group ‘unsuitable’ to hold a casino licence.
