SkyCity unveils Auckland executive team

Cinemas sales process drags on

John Selkirk/ Dominion Post

Placing bets at Auckland Casino.

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Casino operator SkyCity Entertainment Group has appointed three senior executives to manage its flagship Auckland Casino.

SkyCity said today Ejaaz Dean has been appointed executive manager for table games alongside Matthew Hardman who will be executive manager of gaming machines. Simon Jamieson has been promoted to general manager of the SkyCity Auckland hotels, convention centre, tower and restaurants.

The executive appointments follow the arrival of Nigel Morrison as SkyCity's chief executive on March 3.  The new executives start after the recent completion of a $40 million refurbishment of the Auckland Casino's main gaming floor.

At $107.7 million, Auckland produced the bulk of the SkyCity group's $161.4 million operating earnings in the December half-year. The firm also owns casinos in Hamilton, Darwin and Adelaide plus stakes in Christchurch Casino and one of Queenstown's two casinos. It also owns SkyCity Cinemas, which it is trying to sell.

SkyCity spokeswoman Joanna Bleasdale said today there was no update on the sales process. In mid-March Morrison said he hoped to wrap up the protracted sales process within two to three months. SkyCity put the business on the block last August and then slashed its carrying value by $60 million, to about $50 million, in February.

Reading Cinemas is understood to be the most likely buyer of SkyCity's cinema operations, which operate 94 screens in New Zealand and 10 in Fiji.

SkyCity said both Dean and Hardman had 20 years experience in the casino industry working at the likes of Australia's Burswood, Crown and Star City casinos. Jamieson had 25 years experience in hospitality businesses, SkyCity added.

Morrison, an Australian, quit a role as chief financial officer of Hong Kong and Macau Casino group Galaxy Entertainment to move to Auckland. He replaced Evan Davies, SkyCity's founding chief executive, who departed abruptly after 11 years with a $2 million payout last June. SkyCity director Elmar Toime held the fort as executive director in the interim.

Morrison said the company was delighted to secure experienced gaming executives, and was confident it could deliver on plans for the Auckland operations.

SkyCity shares were up 1 cent at $3.95 this afternoon.