Geoff Hogg has assumed the role of acting chief executive officer of The Star Entertainment Group today, June 1st. This follows the departure of John O’Neill, who stepped down after only two months in the position.
Hogg was appointed to the temporary position last week. O’Neill, the interim executive chairman, resigned just a week before he was scheduled to give testimony at a licensing inquiry into The Star Sydney.
Hogg is the third executive leader at The Star Entertainment Group in the past two months. This follows the resignation of former chief executive officer and managing director Matt Bekier in late March. Bekier resigned due to issues raised in the ongoing inquiry.
Hogg’s annual compensation in the new role is A$1 million, pro rata. This is compared to his previous salary of A$700,760 as Queensland’s chief gambling officer. Bekier’s salary was A$1.9 million, according to The Star Entertainment Group’s 2021 financial report.
The Star Entertainment Group stated today that they will continue their quest for a permanent chief executive officer. This search began after Bekier’s resignation in March. The Star Entertainment Group said that either party can terminate the agreement with Hogg at any time with one month’s notice.
O’Neill, who was previously chairman of the company, was appointed interim executive chairman on April 1st after Bekier stepped down.
ONeills testimony, delivered during his tenure as chairman, centered on the intense examination of Star Entertainment Group’s business practices. The organization was accused of collaborating with VIP lounges linked to criminal entities and neglecting to implement adequate anti-money laundering safeguards.
The New South Wales Independent Liquor and Gaming Authority conducted a review of Star Entertainment Group’s operating permit. Numerous Star employees provided testimony that corroborated these allegations. O’Neill was the final witness, taking the stand on May 23.
The inquiry into Sydney’s Star Casino commenced in June 2021. The primary objective was to determine the casino’s suitability for holding a license to operate in New South Wales. The accusations presented at the hearing encompassed claims that senior executives at Sydney’s Star Casino misled regulators, engaged in illicit cash transactions within VIP rooms, and were aware that these transactions violated anti-money laundering regulations.