Zona de Azar Australia – The Star Chairman John O’Neill Resigns Ahead of Inquiry Grilling

Australia.- 23 de Mayo de 2022 www.zonadeazar.com The Star Entertainment Group’s executive chairman John O’Neill has resigned ahead of a public grilling at an inquiry into the company’s Sydney casino licence.

The crisis-stricken outfit announced on the ASX late on Friday afternoon that O’Neill had tendered his resignation and would “step down from the board with a departure date to be agreed”.

“Mr O’Neill informed fellow directors late today of his decision,” the statement said. “Mr O’Neill will transition his chair and executive responsibilities in an orderly manner.”

O’Neill is the latest senior figure to resign from The Star since the explosive inquiry into its suitability to hold a casino licence began in March, joining chief executive Matt Bekier, chief financial officer Harry Theodore and a handful of other top executives and directors on the casualty list.

The former Australian Rugby Union and Football Federation Australia boss had been Star’s chairman since 2012 and took on the executive chairman role on April 1 after Bekier resigned two weeks into the inquiry, which was launched in response to reports by The Age, Sydney Morning Herald and 60 Minutes.

O’Neill was due to give evidence to the inquiry on Monday this week and was scheduled to be its final witness, but the hearings were postponed until this coming Monday without explanation.

The inquiry has examined how Star ignored the criminal links and likely money laundering activities of its major “junket” high-roller tour partners and other customers, and its abuse of Chinese bank cards to facilitate $900 million of banned gambling transactions, which it then lied to its bank NAB about.

O’Neill will likely be asked about his response to warnings from KPMG consultants in 2018 that Star’s anti-money laundering controls were failing, after the inquiry heard he objected to its tone and language.

Directors Gerard Bradley and Sally Pitkin have also flagged they will leave the board in the coming months with the company promises to accelerate its board renewal. Chief NSW casino officer Greg Hawkins, and chief legal and risk officer Paula Martin have also resigned.

Edited by: @MaiaDigital www.zonadeazar.com