Former Wynn Macau executive Ciarán Carruthers has enjoyed his first day as CEO of Australian casino giant Crown Resorts, addressing team members on Monday after stepping into the role previously held by Steve McCann.
According to a social media post by Crown, Carruthers thanked McCann for his efforts in stabilizing the corporate ship over the past 15 months of regulatory hurdles. He also addressed “thousands of our team members across the country, sharing his experiences from 30 years in the industry and his vision for Crown.”
As previously reported by Inside Asian Gaming, McCann will remain with Crown in the short-term in order to work through a transitionary period with his replacement in the top job.
Ironically, Carruthers’ first day at Crown coincided with the newly formed NSW casino regulator, the NSW Independent Casino Commission (NICC), taking over from the NSW Independent Liquor and Gaming Authority (ILGA) on Monday. The NICC is by former ILGA chief Philip Crawford and, according to a recent statement by state Minister for Hospitality and Racin Kevin Anderson, will ensure NSW casinos are monitored “in line with new laws and face strong disciplinary action for compliance failures, past and present.”
Carruthers, whose role puts him in charge of Crown Melbourne, Crown Perth, Crown Sydney, Crown London Aspinalls and Crown’s online business, represents the company’s most significant appointment since being acquired by US private equity giant The Blackstone Group.
He also comes highly regarded, having spent two decades in Macau – first as COO of Galaxy Entertainment Group’s Waldo and StarWorld casinos, then as SVP & Director Operations Venetian Resort and Plaza Casino before joining Wynn as Chief Operating Officer of Wynn Macau Resort from January 2017 until recently.