Crown Resorts boss Steve McCann appointed CEO of Crown Melbourne

Crown Resorts has announced the appointment of its Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director, Steve McCann, as CEO of Crown Melbourne Limited as it continues the transformation of its executive team.

McCann, the former Lendlease boss who joined Crown on 1 June 2021 following the departure of Ken Barton, replaces Xavier Walsh as Crown Melbourne CEO after Walsh officially ended his tenure on 20 August.

As previously reported by IAG, Counsel Assisting the recent Royal Commission into Crown Melbourne had called for Walsh to be found unsuitable to be an associate of the company due to his failure to address systemic issues around money laundering controls, responsible gambling, tax payments and compliance.

According to a Friday filing by Crown, McCann will relocate from Sydney to Melbourne as soon as practicable and subject to COVID-19 interstate travel restrictions as required under Crown Melbourne’s casino license.

McCann recently told the Royal Commission of his plans for cultural reform at Crown Melbourne, informing Commissioner Ray Finkelstein there is “a very significant population of Crown [employees] who are crying out for the ability to speak up, the ability to be involved, to restore the pride in the organisation that they used to feel but that is currently a challenge because their family and friends are struggling with what’s going on.”