Crown Resorts names David Tsai as new COO, announces appointments of key leadership roles

Australian casino operator Crown Resorts announced the appointment of several key leadership roles. The senior executive appointments comprise a mixture of internal moves and external hires. According to the operator, the changes will take effect over the next three months.

David Tsai, formerly CEO of Crown Perth, has been appointed Group COO, effective August 1, 2024. He will be in charge of operational effectiveness and efficiency and will report to group CEO Ciarán Carruthers. Meanwhile, Brian Pereira, currently CFO of Crown Perth, will be Interim CEO of Crown Perth, subject to regulatory approval. 

David Tsai

The company has also appointed Nicole Pelchen as Chief Technology Officer, with effect from August 12. Pelchen joins the operator after an extensive career in the finance services industry, most recently serving as CTO of MUFG Pension & Market Services, having also worked for ANZ Bank and IBM. 

Additionally, Gemma Allman has been appointed Chief Government Relations Officer. She will join in October after 16 years with ExxonMobil, most recently serving as general public and government affairs manager. 

Also joining is Louise Tebbutt, who has been named Chief People and Culture Officer. Tebbutt joins after almost six years as chief people officer at Bendigo and Adelaide Bank. She also previously worked across several roles at the Australian department store group Myer. 

The final new appointment is Stanford Le, who takes on the role of CEO of Crown Sydney. He replaces Mark McWhinnie, who recently announced his decision to retire. Le has worked in the gambling industry for almost 20 years, spending time with Caesars Entertainment, Wynn Resorts, and Sands China. He is currently CEO and president of Snoqualmie Casino. McWhinnie will remain with the business until Le joins in October. 

Ciarán Carruthers

Group CEO Carruthers welcomed the new appointments, emphasizing the positive impact they will have during a crucial period of transformation for Crown. "I am delighted to announce David Tsai’s expanded role and to welcome four new veterans in their respective industries – who bring global perspectives and experiences – to Crown Resorts. Stanford Le, Gemma Allman, Louise Tebbutt, and Nicole Pelchen will be terrific additions to the team at an important time of transformation for the business." 

Carruthers also paid tribute to McWhinnie for leading Crown’s reform and remediation program in Sydney over the past three years. This, he pointed out, culminated in the New South Wales Independent Casino Commission finding Crown suitable to operate in the state.

"Mark’s leadership has been instrumental in evolving our business. We look forward to continuing that focus under Stanford as the new Crown Sydney CEO," he added. 

The new changes follow last month’s appointment of John Borghetti as Crown Resorts’ new chairman. The former CEO of Virgin Australia is due to take up the role next month. 

According to Carruthers, Crown has effectively restructured its operations to maintain licenses in two key states, following a devastating review of the operator’s practices in 2021.

In April, it was confirmed that Crown could retain its Sydney casino license. It followed three years of intensive remediation in the state after the Bergin report in February 2021 found it was “unsuitable” to operate a casino at Barangaroo in Sydney.

A few weeks earlier, Crown also heard it could keep its casino license in Victoria. The Victorian Gambling and Casino Control Commission (VGCCC) ruled in March that the Crown was fit to hold a license for its Melbourne property.

As in New South Wales, Crown has made extensive changes to its casino following the Royal Commission into Casino Licensing.