The Star finalises CEO search

The Star Entertainment Group has appointed Janelle Campbell and Daniel Finch as its two new chief executive officers, marking the completion of its organisational restructure.

The appointments follow The Star’s restructure, which involved the establishment of property-based operational business units in Brisbane, the Gold Coast, and Sydney. 

Under the new structure, each business unit will be led by a property-based CEO, reporting directly to the group CEO and managing director, Robbie Cooke.

The Star has successfully recruited for its tourism and entertainment destinations now Campbell has assumed the CEO role for the Sydney unit.

Finch will lead The Star’s Brisbane operations, transitioning to this role after nine years as the managing director at Expedia Australia, while Campbell brings in experience from her time at Melco Resorts & Entertainment.

Cooke welcomed both new members to the team as part of the company’s transformation ambitions.

He stated, “Janelle has strong leadership skills, with experience in overseeing large-scale operations and managing teams of up to 1200." 

“She has a great track record in developing and implementing strategic business plans. During her time at Melco Resorts & Entertainment, Janelle oversaw finance, supply chain, and AML functions, among other responsibilities."

Cooke also mentioned that Finch’s appointment was the second CEO found for the company, following Jess Mellor’s promotion to CEO for the Gold Coast division late in 2023.

“[Finch] brings exceptional leadership capability to The Star, having developed high-performance teams while overseeing Expedia brands and businesses in Australia and New Zealand.

“His experience in launching new hotels is also a considerable asset as we prepare to open The Star Brisbane and the Queen’s Wharf Brisbane precinct – a transformative development almost 10 years in the making.”

Speaking about her new position, Campbell said, “I am clear on the strategic priorities, including the urgent focus on ensuring our remediation actions drive a return to suitability and the removal of the existing license suspension." 

In October 2022, the group received a penalty of $100 million and a licence suspension due to its failure to curb criminal activity and money laundering following an independent casino commission, known as the Bell report. 

“In parallel, we need to ensure that building the trust and confidence of our regulators, guests, team members, other stakeholders, and the broader community is always front of mind while building a culture of high-performance excellence," Campbell said. 

Finch added, “Together with the team, it will be my ambition to drive a high-performance culture, ensuring 5-star services and experiences for the millions who will visit us each year.

“A major priority will be to build trust and reputation with guests, patrons, stakeholders, and the local community. This will create the foundation that will set The Star up for sustainable long-term growth and success.”

Both parties are expected to start their respective roles from mid to late February, and both roles are subject to pending necessary regulatory approvals.