SkyCity Entertainment Group, which operates integrated resorts in Australia and New Zealand, has announced the retirement of Group CEO John Mortensen effective from 31 December 2017.
Mr Mortensen, who will retire to Australia, was appointed to the newly created position in April in order to assist the transition of CEO Graeme Stephens. He previously served as General Manager of SkyCity Auckland from June 2013 and Chief Operating Officer New Zealand from January 2015 before filling in as interim CEO from April 2016 until Mr Stephens’ arrival.
His departure will see Michael Ahearne come onboard as new Group Chief Operating Officer from 1 January 2018.
Mr Ahearne joins SkyCity from Paddy Power Betfair, one of the world’s leaders in sports betting and gaming, where he has held a number of senior operational and product leadership roles within the European Paddy Power Betfair business based in Dublin, Ireland. Prior to this, Mr Ahearne enjoyed a 13 year career in the Australasian gaming and entertainment sector including 10 years at The Star in Sydney, where he held a variety of senior management positions including Chief Operating Officer. He also spent three years as Chief Operating Officer for Aristocrat in the Australia and New Zealand regions.
As Group Chief Operating Officer, Mr Ahearne will have direct responsibility for SkyCity’s flagship property in Auckland and play a key role across the SkyCity Group’s other five properties in New Zealand and Australia.
Mr Ahearne is a qualified accountant and holds a Master of Business Administration from the University of Technology, Sydney.
RelatedPosts
