David Tsai steps up as new group COO of Crown Resorts

Christine Denosta July 31, 2024

Crown Resorts has announced several leadership changes, which include the promotion of David Tsai (pictured on the right) to Group Chief Operating Officer, effective 1 August 2024.

David Tsai, who previously served as CEO of Crown Perth, will now oversee the entire group’s operations as COO, reporting directly to Group CEO Ciarán Carruthers. Tsai’s journey in the gaming and hospitality industry began as a business analyst at McKinsey & Company before transitioning to Capital One as a Senior Strategy Consultant. He later joined The Venetian in Casino Marketing. He accumulated valuable experience at CityCenter Las Vegas, where he progressed from Manager of Finance & Strategy to Executive Director of Strategy & Development.

Tsai’s career trajectory continued upward with roles such as Vice President of Strategic Development at ARIA Resort & Casino and Sr. Vice President of Corporate Strategy & Analytics at MGM Resorts International. His extensive experience includes serving as SVP & Chief Financial Officer at Monte Carlo Resort & Casino, President & COO at Gold Strike Casino Resort, and various executive roles at MGM across Ohio and Michigan. His tenure at Crown Perth as CEO has now paved the way for his expanded role at the group level.

In addition to Tsai’s promotion, Brian Pereira, the current CFO of Crown Perth, will step into the role of Interim CEO of Crown Perth, pending regulatory approval. Pereira brings a robust financial background to his new role. His career includes notable positions such as Director of Finance at the Bank of Scotland, Head of Group Finance at Bankwest, and CFO roles at Brookfield Rail, WesTrac Cat, and Perth Airport.

Crown Resorts is also making other important leadership appointments. This month Gemma Allman has been named Group Chief Government Relations Officer. Nicole Pelchen will take on the role of Chief Technology Officer, and Louise Tebbutt will join as Chief People & Culture Officer. These appointments are expected to drive the company’s ongoing transformation and strategic goals. Stanford Le will assume the role of CEO at Crown Sydney, subject to necessary regulatory approvals, with Allman, Tebbutt, and Pelchen set to start in October and August, respectively.

CEO Carruthers in hot waters

In December of 2023, Crown Resorts faced mounting pressure from an investigation into CEO Ciaran Carruthers. Victoria’s gambling regulator is probing allegations that Carruthers overrode security protocols to allow patrons back into the casino after they had been ejected. The company has initiated its internal investigation and considered curtailing management’s authority over customer safety.

In April, the company announced significant cost-cutting measures, including layoffs of 1,000 employees, in response to increased compliance costs and financial losses. The company has been operating under strict regulatory watch due to past misconduct.