The Australian Star Entertainment Group has revealed that Robbie Cooke will step into the role of Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director on October 17.
Cooke will take on the position next week, becoming the fourth individual to hold this leadership role at Star Entertainment Group within this year.
Cooke’s most recent position was as the head of Tyro Payments. However, he is more widely recognized for his time as the Managing Director and Group CEO of the lottery firm Tatts Group from 2013 to 2018. He left shortly after the group was acquired by Tabcorp.
Last month, Jeff Hogg stepped down from his position as acting CEO after less than four months. He had assumed the role on a temporary basis in June.
Matt Bekier resigned from his position as CEO and Managing Director in late March following the release of findings from a New South Wales investigation into the operations of Star Entertainment Group. John O’Neill, who succeeded Bekier, also resigned after less than two months as Executive Chairman.
During Hogg’s temporary leadership, Ben Heap was named as the interim head of the organization. However, he will now relinquish this position, along with all other roles at Star.
Heap will resume a non-executive position within the company after Cooke assumes the role permanently.
This appointment signifies the most recent development in a tumultuous year for Star. Earlier this month, the company was deemed ineligible to maintain a license in Queensland following an investigation into its operations.
The review, initiated in June, delved into various aspects and uncovered a number of systematic shortcomings.
The findings largely correspond with those revealed in Adam Bell SC’s report on Star’s activities in New South Wales, which also concluded that the operator was unfit to hold a license in that state.
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