Crown Resorts payroll purge starts with CEO Craigie

Australian casino operator Crown Resorts is preparing to announce a new CEO following a review of the business by its chairman of the board.

On Wednesday, Australian media reported that Crown chairman John Alexander plans to trim hundreds of employees from the company’s payroll, including CEO Rowen Craigie, who has held that position for nearly a decade. Barry Felstead, who heads up Crown’s domestic resort business, is tipped to succeed Craigie as CEO.

Alexander, who was appointed executive chairman in January, was given a broad mandate by Crown director and largest shareholder James Packer to cut Crown’s expenses as the company restructures to focus on its domestic business. Alexander is also mulling whether it’s worth maintaining Crown’s horseracing and rugby league sponsorship deals, the latter including the South Sydney Rabbitohs.

The reports come ahead of the release of Crown’s fiscal H1, which is expected to be brutal. Crown’s domestic rival, The Star Entertainment Group, reported a significant decline in VIP gambling turnover in its fiscal H1 report last week.