The Chief Executive Officer of New Zealand’s SkyCity Entertainment Group, Michael Ahearne, has announced plans to step down from the role and leave the company, effective from March 2024.
His impending departure was revealed via filings on the New Zealand and Australia stock exchanges on Monday morning, with Ahearne – who joined the company as Group COO in December 2017 before being promoted to CEO in November 2020 – set to return to Europe with his family.
“Michael has led the business through a very complex and demanding period,” said SkyCity chair Julian Cook. “This has included dealing with the significant fire at the New Zealand International Convention Centre and rebuild, navigating the business through COVID-19 and the recovery, and responding to regulatory matters relating to the SkyCity Adelaide business. Michael has also led significant investment and improvements in SkyCity’s compliance functions.
“Michael has worked hard to set a strong platform for the business going forward and has been tireless in seeking to do the right thing for SkyCity. On behalf of myself and the SkyCity Board, I would like to thank Michael for his leadership, commitment and dedication through his time with SkyCity.”
Ahearne previously held a number of senior commercial, operational and product leadership roles at UK giant Paddy Power Betfair, before serving as COO for Aristocrat in Australia and New Zealand and filling several senior management positions at The Star Sydney.
SkyCity said it has commenced a recruitment process for a new CEO which will consider both internal and external candidates.
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