Category: People Moves

Dec 17 (Reuters) – U.S.-based Bally’s and the Mathieson family tightened their grip on Australia’s Star Entertainment on Wednesday, installing Bruce Mathieson Jr as CEO and Bally’s chair Soo Kim as the embattled casino operator’s chairman. Shares of the Australian firm rose more than 14% to a three-month high of A$0.120, as of 0052 GMT. Star’s board now consists of Mathieson Jr, Kim, and Bally’s President George Papanier. The appointments come a day after Chief Executive Steve McCann stepped down, following his efforts to steer the debt-laden firm through financial and regulatory turmoil. The Mathieson family and Bally’s are Star’s largest shareholders, holding stakes of 23% and 38%, respectively. Both parties have been instrumental in providing a financial rescue package to the struggling Australian firm, which was on the verge of bankruptcy. Over the years, Star has been grappling with back-to-back probes into its management and operations, including accusations of money laundering and fraud. In the last two years, the company has seen multiple executive changes and poured millions into compliance upgrades and new systems to restore its battered reputation and secure casino licences. Since then, the company has slightly strengthened its balance sheet, with annual losses narrowing in fiscal 2025 and into the first quarter of the current year. The cash-strapped firm continued to trim losses in the first quarter of fiscal 2026 on a sequential basis on improved performance across its operations, but uncertainty about its future persists. Source: https://www.investing.com/news/stock-market-news/australias-star-entertainment-names-bruce-mathieson-jr-as-new-ceo-4411682

PointsBet Holdings has announced the appointment of Andrew Catterall, currently CEO of its Australia business, as group CEO with effect from 1 February next year. Catterall has been CEO of PointsBet Australia since July 2022. In this time, PointsBet said, he led the business through a period of “operational transformation”. Prior to PointsBet, Catterall held various senior roles across the media, sports, entertainment and technology sectors. Most recently before PointsBet, he was CEO of the Racing.com joint venture between Seven West Media and Victorian Thoroughbred Racing Industry. He also spent time as chief operating officer of Beyond Boundaries Group and chief commercial and strategy officer of Racing Victoria. Other roles included general manager for strategy and marketing at the Australian Football League and as a consultant for both Gemba Group and the Boston Consulting Group, “We are delighted to appoint Andrew as group CEO,” PointsBet Chairman Brett Paton said. “He has delivered strong performance within our Australian operations and brings extensive industry expertise, strategic capability and leadership qualities that will guide PointsBet into its next phase. “The board congratulates Andrew on his appointment and looks forward to working closely with him as he leads the group forward.” Outgoing CEO to remain on PointsBet boardCatterall will succeed Sam Swanell, who has led PointsBet as CEO and managing director since July 2016. Swanell will continue to support the business throughout a transition and handover period Once this period has concluded, Swannell will move into an advisory role within the group. In addition, he will remain on the company’s board as an executive director. “On behalf of the board, I’d like to thank Sam for his exceptional leadership, unwavering commitment and deep contribution to PointsBet since founding the company,” Paton said. “Sam has guided PointsBet through every stage of its development and growth. His continued involvement in an advisory capacity, as well as his ongoing service on the board, will ensure the business continues to benefit from his insight and experience.” All change after MIXI takeoverCatterall’s appointment is the latest change at PointsBet since MIXI Australia became the majority shareholder in the business. MIXI completed its takeover offer for PointsBet in September, securing 66.43% of the overall voting power in the operator. In October, PointsBet made changes to its board of directors, including the addition of three executives from MIXI. Sho Okuyama, Kanji Kobayashi and Taishi Oba all joined the board as non-executive directors of the business. Patton remained as chairman, while Swannell also retained his place as a director. However, Becky Harris, Tony Symons, Kosha Gada, Peter McCluskey and William Grounds all resigned as directors. However, the takeover was far from a smooth process for MIXI, having faced competition from Betr Entertainment throughout. Betr hoped for a full takeover but had to settle for an increased holding after MIXI came out on top. Betr now holds 27.72% of the total holding in the business, having previously owned 19.9% prior to its takeover offer. MIXI will have the majority in company matters but Betr will still have its say. Source: https://igamingbusiness.com/people/people-moves/pointsbet-appoints-new-group-ceo/

Dec 10 (Reuters) – Coca-Cola (KO.N), opens new tab named insider Henrique Braun as its new CEO on Wednesday, replacing James Quincey, as packaged food companies try to adjust their strategies to consumers looking for healthier and more affordable drinks and snacks. The company’s portfolio of zero-sugar beverages, as well as its more premium product lines such as Fairlife milk, have held Coca-Cola in better shape in a choppy consumer landscape, in contrast to rivals such as PepsiCo (PEP.O) Source: https://www.reuters.com/sustainability/boards-policy-regulation/coca-cola-names-insider-henrique-braun-new-ceo-2025-12-10/

Jubilant Therapeutics Inc., a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company, has appointed Daniel J. O’Connor as President & Chief Executive Officer. “We are delighted to welcome Dan as CEO of Jubilant Therapeutics Inc.,” said Hari S Bhartia, Chairman, Jubilant Therapeutics Inc. “His extensive experience in building and scaling biopharmaceutical companies, combined with his deep expertise in oncology and strategic partnerships, will be instrumental in advancing our mission to deliver transformative therapies to patients.” ExperienceO’Connor brings more than 30 years of leadership experience in biotechnology and oncology, with a proven track-record of creating value around differentiated, IP-rich platforms. Most recently, he served as CEO of Ambrx Biopharma, where his leadership drove a significant increase in company valuation culminating in its successful acquisition. Earlier in his career, O’Connor was instrumental at ImClone Systems, contributing to the clinical development, launch, and commercialization of a major oncology therapy while navigating complex intellectual property and inventorship challenges. He also served as CEO of Advaxis, a NASDAQ listed immune-oncology company, where he transformed the organization into a late-stage clinical enterprise, secured substantial growth capital, and forged strategic collaborations with leading pharmaceutical partners. O’Connor holds a Juris Doctor (JD) from the Penn State Dickinson Law of The Pennsylvania State University and has served as an officer in the U.S. Marine Corps. O’Connor said, “I am honored to lead Jubilant Therapeutics Inc., a company dedicated to driving breakthrough innovation for cancers that are difficult to treat. I look forward to collaborating closely with our talented team to advance our mission and deliver meaningful value to patients, partners and stakeholders alike.” Source: https://www.contractpharma.com/breaking-news/jubilant-therapeutics-appoints-new-president-ceo/

Sedgwick has named Aruna Chandrapalan (pictured) as CEO of Singapore. She will continue to serve as partner, forensic accounting services (FAS) across Asia. Chandrapalan is a chartered loss adjuster and chartered accountant and has more than two decades of experience in the insurance sector. She joined Sedgwick in 2017 as a senior manager and, in 2023, was appointed head of forensic accounting services in Asia. Her work has included financial lines claims, property damage claims, and stock valuations for corporate and commercial clients. Commenting on her appointment, Chandrapalan said: “I am honoured to take on the role of CEO for Singapore and continue supporting our clients. I look forward to building on Sedgwick’s strong foundation and driving growth with our talented team.” Source: https://www.insurancebusinessmag.com/asia/news/breaking-news/sedgwick-names-new-ceo-for-singapore-558139.aspx

EssenceMediacom’s Stephanie Douglas-Neal will join the leadership team in 2026, which will also comprise Initiative’s Jo McAlister, and UM’s Anathea Ruys, LBB’s Tom Loudon reports Kristiaan Kroon has been named CEO of Omnicom Media in Australia, with former PHD CEO Mark Jarrett moving into the COO role. The appointments come amid a slew of leadership announcements following global structural changes to Omnicom as the holding company begins to operationalise its acquisition of IPG. The Omnicom Media top job has remained vacant since the departure of Peter Horgan in March, though Kristiaan has led the business during the period as COO. He has also made several key hires including CFO Donna Bartlett, who has acted in the role for six months. The COO role will now be occupied by Mark Jarrett, who has spent the last six of his nearly 10 years with PHD as its Australian CEO. Recently, he was confirmed to be leaving the post for a group-level role, with OMD co-CEO Laura Nice moving across to stablemate PHD, leaving Sian Whitnall to solely run OMD. Earlier this week, IPG MediaBrands APAC CEO Leigh Terry and IPG MediaBrands Australia CEO Mark Coad exited the business as a result of the structural changes brought about by the merger, along with Magna MD Lucy Formosa Morgan. Initiative CEO, Jo McAlister, and UM CEO, Anathea Ruys, will join Omnicom Media’s leadership group locally, though Omnicom has yet to determine the fate of IPG MediaBrands Australian COO, Geoff Clarke. Managing director of WPP’s EssenceMediacom Australia, Stephanie Douglas-Neal, has also joined the business. Although her role has not been officially revealed, she is expected to move into Hearts & Science as CEO following Jane Stanley’s exit earlier this year. Prior to her three years with EssenceMediacom, Stephanie spent seven years at PHD, finishing as MD. This week, Omnicom Oceania CEO Nick Garrett confirmed the region’s six media agency brands will continue to operate independently post-IPG merger: OMD, PHD, UM, Initiative, Hearts & Science, Mediahub, and, globally, Axciom. Globally, the business has sunset creative agency brands DDB, FCB, and MullenLowe. In Australia, DDB will be folded into Clemenger BBDO, run by DDB’s local bosses and new Clemenger co-CEOs Sheryl Marjoram and Mike Napolitano.​ DDB and FCB will merge in New Zealand to create McCann New Zealand, run by Priya Patel and Paul Wilson. In Wellington, New Zealand, Clemenger Wellington and FCB Wellington will be merged to become McCann Wellington, operating as part of McCann Group NZ. Local leadership for McCann Wellington will be announced soon. Attivo Group-owned 303 MullenLowe has rebranded to 303 in Australia, its original name, in what the agency said marks a return to its “independent roots” following the retirement of the ‘MullenLowe’ brand. Source: https://lbbonline.com/news/kristiaan-kroon-mark-jarrett-omnicom-media-australia

Starting 1 January 2026, Lendi Group Co-founder Sebastian Watkins will take on the role of chief executive officer, replacing David Hyman. Watkins previously served as chief operating officer of the group. The privately-held Australian fintech home loans group — parent company to the Aussie and Lendi brands — said Hyman, who is also a cofounder, will continue as a board director and special advisor of Lendi Group, focusing on company growth and artificial intelligence. “This leadership transition reflects thoughtful succession planning and the strength of the successful founding partnership built by David and Sebastian over the last decade,” said Ellie Comerford, Lendi Group chair. Hyman said he will be “exploring new ventures in 2026,” but did not respond to requests for more detail. “After 13 years building Lendi Group, I’ve decided to transition from my current CEO role, while remaining on the Board focusing on priority areas where I can add the most value to the business,” Hyman said. “Sebastian (or Bas) is a world-class leader and a true champion for customers and broker success,” he continued “Bas has been integral to the business since the beginning, has the depth of experience to lead this business and is the right leader to drive this next chapter.” Watkins added: “As CEO, my focus now will be delivering for customers and brokers, scaling the Find, Buy, Own [platform] to its full potential and building on the momentum in the business. I’m proud to lead Lendi Group into its next chapter with our people, brokers, lending and product partners, and the support of an exceptional leadership team.” Watkins and Hyman cofounded Lendi in 2013. The firm merged with Aussie Home Loans in May 2021 to become the Lendi Group. Source: https://www.brokernews.com.au/news/breaking-news/lendi-group-appoints-new-ceo-288517.aspx

Mitsubishi Australia will have a new chief in 2026 as it looks to capitalise on a raft of new models in local showrooms, led by the new ASX small SUV and a more capable Outlander PHEV. Shunichi Kihara has been confirmed as the new Chief Executive Officer of Mitsubishi Motors Australia Limited (MMAL), effective January 5, 2026. Mr Kihara will come into the role after serving as the Assistant Division General Manager of the Japanese automaker’s North Asia Division, and replaces interim MMAL CEO Yoshinori Yamazaki. The incoming CEO has also held global sales roles at Mitsubishi. “I’m delighted to accept the position of CEO at MMAL and look forward to meeting you when I arrive in Australia,” Mr Kihara said in a statement. “Mitsubishi Motors has been a strong and trusted brand in Australia for 45 years, and together we will build on that legacy to drive it into the future.” The change at the top comes after Shaun Westcott, who led MMAL for five years including as chairman until 2024, resigned in September. A number of fresh models will see Mr Kihara look to grow Mitsubishi’s market share here, including the recently launched ASX – based on the Renault Captur – and the updated Outlander PHEV (plug-in hybrid electric vehicle) due on sale here early next year. Sales are down 16.3 per cent year-to-date, yet Mitsubishi is still outperforming rivals including sister Alliance brands Renault (-16.5 per cent) and Nissan (-17.7 per cent), and Volkswagen (-19 per cent). Mitsubishi remains a top 10 brand in Australia, placing sixth in October 2025 sales with help from the Triton ute, which forms the basis of the new Nissan Navara and was its best-seller for the month. It sits sixth overall year-to-date on 52,364 sales, behind Hyundai (64,861) and ahead of GWM (43,774) – after placing fifth for the full year in 2024. Year-to-date, the Outlander remains its most popular model, and there’s a larger battery pack coming as part of the facelifted electrified mid-size SUV in early 2026. In North America, Mitsubishi launched a more rugged version of the Outlander as a rival to the Subaru Outback, which could also become part of the Australian lineup, although this has not been confirmed. Model sharing with Nissan may also see the next-generation Nissan Patrol off-road SUV sold as a Pajero to give Mitsubishi a legitimate Toyota LandCruiser 300 Series rival. A potential replacement for the Pajero Sport was shown at the 2025 Japanese Mobility Show in Tokyo last month, too, while the company is also looking to add hybrid tech to models including the ASX and Triton, and to launch its first new-generation EV, a small electric SUV, in the second half of next year. Source: https://www.therural.com.au/story/9121208/mitsubishi-australia-announces-new-ceo/

Logicalis Asia Pacific has appointed Glenn Neo as its new COO (chief operating officer) and CTO (chief technology officer), a dual-role position created to support the company’s next phase of growth. The appointment supports Logicalis Asia Pacific’s move to expand AI capabilities and improve operational efficiency. Based in Singapore, Neo will report to the Asia Pacific CEO, Chong-Win Lee. Commenting on his appointment, Neo said, “I am delighted to join Logicalis Asia Pacific at such a transformative time. The opportunity to help shape the company’s AI-led future and work alongside talented teams across the region is truly inspiring.” “I look forward to building on Logicalis’ strong foundation and driving innovation that delivers meaningful impact for our clients and partners,” he added. Glenn joins Logicalis from Synapxe, where he served as Director of Innovation Capabilities Enablement, and concurrently as Chief Information Officer at Woodlands Health. His career spans senior roles at Accenture, Russell Reynolds, SGX, YCH Group, and board-level and advisory positions in start-ups. Logicalis Asia Pacific CEO, Chong-Win Lee, outlined why Glenn’s appointment comes at a critical time for the business: “Glenn’s vision and leadership will help us unlock new value for our customers and drive sustainable growth across the region.” “His proven expertise in digital transformation and operational excellence will be critical as we accelerate our journey to become the region’s leading AI Integrator,” Lee added. Source: https://www.itnews.asia/news/logicalis-names-glenn-neo-as-coo-and-cto-for-its-asia-pacific-operations-621859

New appointments to drive operational directionPhil van Zyl, who is currently CEO of Sedgwick New Zealand, has been appointed as interim CEO for Australia. He will continue his role in New Zealand while also overseeing the Australian executive team and operations. Simon Kay has been appointed as chief operating officer for Australia and will be responsible for operational management in the region. Paul White, Sedgwick’s regional CEO for international, commented on the leadership changes: “We have seen exceptional leadership from Phil in New Zealand for nearly six years, and he has contributed significantly to our growth story. With Phil and Simon at the helm, I am confident that we will have the clear direction needed to continue to deliver strong results for our company, colleagues, and clients.” Transition following CEO retirementThe appointments follow the retirement of Diego Ascani, who had led Sedgwick Australia since 2018. White commented: “With a distinguished insurance industry career of over 30 years, he became chief executive officer for Australia in 2018, navigating his team through the acquisition of Cunningham Lindsey by Sedgwick that same year. His passion for the customer, client, and colleague experience shone through during COVID and many major claim surges including the Northern NSW floods in 2022, Australia’s largest ever CAT event.” White said that during Ascani’s time with the company, he focused on industry innovation, professional development, and inclusion. “Diego’s legacy will be defined by his championing of industry innovation, professional development, and inclusion, including his membership of the board of the Australian and New Zealand Institute of Insurance and Finance (ANZIIF) since 2020. Let’s wish Diego all the best as he departs the company and transitions into retirement,” he said. Focus on local expertise and international resourcesVan Zyl, who has worked at Sedgwick for more than 20 years in various senior positions, said the company’s operations in Australia rely on its local staff. “Sedgwick’s presence in Australia is supported at all times by our talented local team, which is critical to our success. Our expertise in this market, combined with our global experience, positions Sedgwick to provide our clients with unmatched services and know-how in this industry that is rapidly transforming,” van Zyl said. Kay, the new COO, has over 30 years of experience in loss adjusting and has previously held leadership roles in the UK and internationally. He has worked on property losses and claims in different regions. Broader executive changes across SedgwickThe recent leadership changes in Australia are among several executive transitions at Sedgwick. Earlier this month, the company announced that Tom Simoncic, president of global property and international, will retire after 18 years with the company. Paul White is set to become CEO, International, starting Jan. 1, 2026. White will oversee operations in the UK, Australia, Asia, the Middle East, New Zealand, and South Africa. He has previously held senior roles at Sedgwick and its predecessor, Cunningham Lindsey. In August, Sedgwick named Kalani Reelitz as chief financial officer, with responsibilities for financial planning and capital management. The company also appointed new chief executive officers for its Japan and Taiwan businesses earlier this year. Shuji Tanaka and Cameron Lee have taken on those roles, while their predecessors have moved into chairman positions. Source: https://www.insurancebusinessmag.com/au/news/breaking-news/sedgwick-appoints-new-leaders-for-australian-operations-557010.aspx