August 29, 2022 | By Bronwen Largier
Crown Resorts has confirmed that current CEO of Crown Sydney Simon McGrath AM will depart the casino and hospitality group at the end of September after only eight months in the role.
Multiple mainstream media outlets have reported that McGrath resigned from the organisation and Crown Resorts has released a statement to micenet confirming that McGrath will leave the business.
McGrath took up the positions of CEO of Crown Sydney and group head of hospitality across Crown’s portfolio of resorts in Sydney, Melbourne and Perth in February this year, trading in his role at the helm of Accor Pacific which he’d held for more than 15 years.
“Simon has made an important contribution to Crown Sydney during his time as CEO, including overseeing the successful opening of Australia’s only VIP members-only casino and we wish him all the best for the future,” said a Crown spokesperson.
“Simon has applied his wealth of industry knowledge in refreshing the Group-wide approach to hospitality, quality control and yield management.
“A new CEO of Crown Sydney will be announced soon. The role of group head of hospitality will not be replaced,” said the spokesperson.
McGrath’s exit from Crown follows that of Steve McCann, Crown Resorts’ CEO and CEO of Crown Melbourne, announced in early July. McCann had also not been with the business long, taking the reins in June 2021. The flurry of departures has come following the acquisition of Crown Resorts by US private equity firm Blackstone.
Crown Resorts is undergoing a period of “transformation” following investigations into its suitability to hold gaming licences in the three Australian states in which it operates. Crown or its subsidiaries were found unsuitable in all three states, but the business is taking steps to address issues identified by each of the inquiries and royal commissions.