Barton\u2019s resignation has been in the cards ever since the publication of the report by former NSW Supreme Court judge Patricia Bergin. That report described him as \u201cno match for what is needed at the helm of a casino licensee.<\/p>\n
His problems will not be cured by the appointment of people expert in the field who report to him,”<\/strong> Bergin said.<\/p><\/blockquote>\nThe report concluded that Crown was \u201cfacilitating money laundering, exposing staff to the risk of detention in a foreign jurisdiction, and pursuing commercial relationships with individuals with connections to Triads and organized crime groups.\u201d<\/p>\n
It recommended that the state gaming regulator, ILGA, refuse to renew Crown\u2019s gaming license in NSW. The company opened its $1.7 billion Sydney resort in December without casino operations.<\/strong><\/p>\n$3 Million Payday<\/strong><\/h2>\nDespite being singled out in Bergin\u2019s report, Barton is expected to walk away with at least an AU$3m payout ($2.3 million), according to The Guardian.<\/em><\/p>\nBergin said Barton demonstrated a \u201cbreath-taking lack of care\u201d when responding to allegations in the media that Crown was facilitating money laundering at its Melbourne and Perth properties.<\/p>\n
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In his previous role as CFO, he had been personally responsible for two VIP accounts that had been used by criminal gangs to launder the proceeds of their illegal operations, Bergin said.<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\nBarton was appointed CEO in January 2020, having been at the company for over a decade. Helen Coonan, current chair of the board, will replace him until a new CEO is found.<\/p>\n
\u201cAssuming the role of executive chairman is a decision I have not taken lightly. But the board feels it provides leadership stability and certainty at this important time for the business,\u201d Coonan said in a release to the ASX.<\/p>\n
Coonan said Monday the company was taking “significant steps to improve our governance, compliance, and culture.”<\/p>\n
Exec Exodus<\/strong><\/h2>\nBarton follows five other Crown execs out the door. These include Michael Johnston and Guy Jalland, who represented Crown\u2019s biggest shareholder, billionaire James Packer, on the board.<\/p>\n
Bergin criticized Packer for acting like a \u201cde facto director,\u201d despite not having sat on the board for several years, and suggested he had a \u201cdysfunctional influence\u201d on the company.<\/strong><\/p>\nShe also recommended that equity caps of 10 percent be placed on Crown ownership. That would mean Packer would be forced to divest himself of a chunk of his equity in the company, if not all of it.<\/p>\n
Packer said during testimony at the Bergin inquiry that he would be prepared to give up his stake in Crown if it protected the company\u2019s licenses.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Crown Resorts CEO Ken Barton resigned Monday, as the fallout continued from a damning report that has left the company fighting for its license in New South Wales. Barton\u2019s resignation has been in the cards ever since the publication of the report by former NSW Supreme Court judge Patricia Bergin. That report described him as […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":36,"featured_media":164548,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[69069,21,13592],"tags":[],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n
Crown Resorts CEO Barton Resigns Following Bombshell Report<\/title>\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n\t \n\t \n\t \n \n \n \n \n \n\t \n\t \n\t \n