An inquiry into whether Australia’s Star Entertainment Group is suitable to retain its NSW casino license for The Star Sydney has claimed three more victims with Chief Financial Officer Harry Theodore, Chief Casino Officer (NSW) Greg Hawkins and Chief Legal & Risk Officer and Company Secretary Paula Martin tendering their resignations.
Star confirmed their departure on Friday, with the trio following in the footsteps of former Managing Director and CEO Matt Bekier, who stepped down in late March. Chairman John O’Neill has since been appointed Executive Chairman until a replacement for Bekier is found.
In an ASX filing, Star said, “The three executives will work with the Executive Chairman to transition their executive responsibilities in an orderly manner. An executive search firm will commence the search for permanent appointments.”
Theodore, Hawkins and Martin are among executives referenced by Bekier during public hearings last week as being part a subculture that he said let the company down.
“When it came to the VIP-related matters … I had a failure of the first and the second line of defence,” he said. “I feel let down by people in the risk team and people in the VIP team.”
Amid concerns over Star’s relationship with Asian junket promoters, Bekier also admitted that unethical behavior had taken place at Star, including the illegal use of China Union Pay cards to disguise gambling transactions and allowing leading junket Suncity Group to operate its own VIP room at The Star Sydney.
