Daniel Finch Appointed as CEO of Star Entertainment's Brisbane Operations

Star Entertainment has taken a bold step by appointing Daniel Finch as the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of its Brisbane operations. Finch, with over nine years of experience as the Managing Director of Expedia Australia, is set to oversee the operations at the Star Brisbane casino, which is currently undergoing relocation to a new site. The casino will feature various amenities and is scheduled to welcome guests in August.

Finch's impressive career also includes director and executive roles for Asia-focused travel websites, as well as sales positions at prominent establishments such as Sofitel Brisbane Central, Constellation Hotel Group, Carlton Crest Hotel Brisbane, and the Millennium Mayfair London.

In his statement, Finch expressed his excitement about joining Star Entertainment during this pivotal moment, highlighting the significance of The Star Brisbane's opening not only for the business but for Queensland as a whole. His goal is to foster a high-performance culture that ensures exceptional services and experiences for the millions of visitors expected annually.

Daniel Finch's appointment aligns with Star Entertainment's organizational restructure, which aims to create property-based operational units covering locations in Brisbane, the Gold Coast, and Sydney. While Jess Mellor takes charge of the Gold Coast, the search for a CEO for the Sydney venue is ongoing, following Scot Wharton's departure in April.

Star CEO and Managing Director Robbie Cooke praised Finch's exceptional leadership skills, emphasizing his experience in developing high-performance teams and launching new hotels—an asset as they prepare for the transformative development of Star Brisbane and the Queen's Wharf Brisbane precinct.

This appointment comes on the heels of Star Entertainment's reprieve regarding its Queensland casino license suspension. In November, Star was granted an additional six months to demonstrate its fitness to operate land-based casinos in Queensland, delaying the planned license suspension.

Star faced sanctions in December 2022 due to operational shortcomings, resulting in a hefty fine of AU$100.0 million. An inquiry into operations at Star Gold Coast and Treasury Brisbane deemed the group "unsuitable" to hold a license in Queensland. The deadline for compliance, originally set for December 1, has now been extended until May 31, 2024, providing Star with more time to address regulatory demands.