Crown Resorts appoints David Tsai as permanent Chief Executive Officer

Crown Resorts has officially named David Tsai as its permanent Chief Executive Officer, effective immediately, following his interim leadership beginning September 1. Tsai stepped into the acting role after the resignation of Ciarán Carruthers, who announced his departure in late August and is set to leave the company entirely by December 31.

David Tsai, who joined Crown in December 2022, initially served as the CEO of the Perth division before advancing to the roles of President and Group Chief Operating Officer in August. His appointment as permanent CEO is contingent upon the necessary regulatory approvals.

Tsai's experience in the gaming industry also includes a three-year stint as president of MGM Resorts’ Midwest Group prior to joining Crown. Other previous roles include President and COO of MGM Grand Detroit and MGM Northfield Park, as well as leadership positions at Gold Strike Casino Resort. He has also served as Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of the Monte Carlo Resort and Casino and Vice President of Strategic Development at Aria Resort and Casino.

Crown Chair John Borghetti expressed confidence in Tsai undertaking this new role: "David is a highly capable, proven and experienced integrated resorts executive. He has clearly demonstrated his commercial and strategic ability. Together with his strong cultural and team values, David is well positioned to lead the continued transformation, growth and future success of Crown’s business."

In response to his permanent appointment, Tsai stated: "With the support of our talented and committed team, our goal is for Crown Resorts to be the ultimate entertainment destination in each of our cities, positioning Crown to thrive long into the future.” 

This leadership change comes amid ongoing regulatory challenges for Crown Resorts. Recently, the Victorian Gambling and Casino Control Commission imposed an AU$2 million ($1.32 million) fine on the company for allowing self-excluded individuals to gamble, which violated state regulations.

An investigation revealed that 242 self-excluded players accessed Crown Melbourne's gaming facilities on numerous occasions, while 427 self-excluded individuals gained entry 750 times.