Star taps CBA executive Scott Wharton to run Sydney casino and lead transformation

The embattled gaming group has hired CBA executive Scott Wharton to run its casino in Sydney as it awaits the fate of its NSW licence.

Star Entertainment has hired CBA executive Scott Wharton to run its casino in Sydney as it awaits the fate of its NSW licence. Picture: Joel Carrett/AAP Image

Troubled gaming group Star Entertainment has begun rebuilding its executive, appointing the man who oversaw Commonwealth Bank’s transformation on governance, culture and accountability as its new NSW casino boss.

Star, which is sweating on the outcome of a royal commission-style inquiry into its fitness to hold a NSW casino licence, has hired CBA executive Scott Wharton to oversee its flagship Pyrmont casino.

Mr Wharton is the second senior executive to join the company after a mass exodus of its C-suite in the wake of explosive revelations that it misled NAB and ultimately the Bank of China over the illegal use of China Union Pay debit cards to fund gambling and continued to deal with Chinese junkets despite being told of links to triad criminal gangs.

Mr Wharton — who will replace Greg Hawkins as chief executive of The Star Sydney — has also been tasked as group head of transformation, “pending all necessary regulatory approvals”, Star said on Wednesday.

He was most recently a member of CBA’s group executive, program delivery, which included leading the bank’s transformation on governance, culture and accountability issues.

Mr Wharton will report to incoming Star chief executive Robbie Cooke, who is leaving Tyro Payments to lead the embattled gaming group’s turnaround, replacing Matt Bekier who resigned in March, days into the start of the Bell inquiry into the company’s suitability to hold a NSW casino licence.

Naomi Sharp SC, the counsel assisting the inquiry, has recommended Star be found not suitable to hold a licence, particularly after revelations including that it flouted NSW casino laws by exchanging bundles of cash from backpacks for gambling chips.

But the company’s lawyers argue that the executive clean-out – which included former chairman John O’Neill – proves that it is reforming its operations and should keep its licence.

Interim chairman Ben Heap said on Wednesday that Mr Wharton has “exemplary credentials as we drive a renewal program across the group”.

“The work he led at CBA has been recognised as one of the most comprehensive reforms of corporate culture in Australia.”

Mr Wharton, who has been at CBA since 2016, said he is looking forward to joining Star “at this critical moment in its history”.

Star shares rose 1.1 per cent to $2.90 on Wednesday, giving the company a market value of $2.76bn. This came amid a 1.7 per cent lift across the broader sharemarket.