Grant Bowie, who held senior roles at two of Macau’s casino concessionaires spanning a period of almost two decades, has been appointed a non-executive director and “observer” on the board at Australian casino firm The Star Entertainment Group Ltd.
The new role for Mr Bowie (pictured in a file photo) was announced in a Thursday filing to the Australian Securities Exchange. It is “subject to all regulatory and ministerial approvals being obtained,” said Star Entertainment.
Soo Kim, who was confirmed as Star Entertainment’s chairman in December, was quoted saying: “I would like to welcome Grant to the board and look forward to working with him to assist in delivering our strategic objectives and creating a sustainable future for The Star [Entertainment].”
He noted Mr Bowie has over 40 years’ experience in tourism, gaming and hospitality.
Shareholders of Star Entertainment approved in June an AUD300.0-million (US$215.2-million currently) rescue package, led by United States-based gaming operator Bally’s Corp, which has become the Australian firm’s largest shareholder. Mr Kim is also chairman of Bally’s.
Earlier this month, Star Entertainment said it had completed the disposal of its 50 percent equity interest in the Destination Brisbane Consortium, owner of the site in Brisbane, Australia, where The Star Brisbane casino is located.
Following the disposal, Star Entertainment will manage the casino, and receive a “casino operator fee”.
Star Entertainment also runs The Star Sydney casino complex in New South Wales, Australia.
Mr Bowie served as president and general manager of Wynn Resorts (Macau) Ltd from 2003 to 2007. That encompassed the construction period for Wynn Macau, the Wynn brand’s first casino complex in the Macau market, which opened in September 2006.
Mr Bowie then joined, in August 2008, Macau gaming licence holder MGM Grand Paradise Ltd as president, about eight months after the MGM group opened its first Macau casino property, MGM Macau, in December 2007.
Mr Bowie stepped down as chief executive of MGM Grand Paradise’s parent, MGM China Holdings Ltd, in August 2020, having overseen the latter’s initial public offering on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange in 2011, and the launch in February 2018 of the group’s MGM Cotai complex.
Before moving to Macau, Mr Bowie spent 16 years with Park Place Entertainment Corp in Australia, holding senior positions in gaming, general finance and hotel operations.
