Australia’s Crown Resorts has announced two key leadership appointments at Crown Perth, with former Western Australia treasurer Ben Wyatt named the property’s new Chairman and current CFO Brian Pereira promoted to the CEO role.
On the same day it was revealed a decision will soon be handed down on Crown Perth’s suitability following two years under an independent monitor, Crown said the new appointments were designed to lead the company into a much brighter future given the trials and tribulations of recent times.
Wyatt, it added, brings a wealth of experience to the Board of Directors, having previously held a range of Ministerial portfolios during his 15 years in the West Australian State Parliament, including as Treasurer. He will replace current Chair John Van Der Wielen who will remain on the Board over the coming months to ensure a smooth transition.
Pereira, who joined Crown in 2023 as CFO, previously served as CFO at Perth Airport and brings more than 30 years of financial and corporate strategic leadership experience in the tourism, entertainment, aviation and banking sectors in Australia and the UK.
“Both of these appointees are highly regarded and are ideally positioned to lead Crown Perth,” said John Borghetti, Chairman of Crown Perth’s parent company Crown Resorts. “I would also like to thank John Van Der Wielen for his leadership and dedication to Crown over the last three years and deeply appreciate his decision to remain with Crown to ensure a smooth transition.”
Crown Resorts CEO David Tsai, who briefly served as Crown Perth CEO before moving up through the ranks last year, added, “I am confident that these two appointments, with their deep local knowledge of the WA tourism sector and economy, are the right people to lead the Perth team into the next exciting era of growth for the state’s only fully integrated entertainment resort.”
