ILGA backs Helen Coonan as Crown Resorts resignations mount

The ILGA has backed Coonan’s position as executive chair while Mary Manos has resigned as company secretary.

Australia.- The New South Wales regulator, the Independent Liquor and Gaming Authority, has given its backing to Crown Resorts’ new executive chairman.

Helen Coonan assumed the role on an interim basis after Ken Barton stepped down following the publication of the findings of the ILGA’s inquiry into Crown’s fitness to keep its licence for its Crown Sydney property.

ILGA chairman Philip Crawford said: “Crown’s in crisis management and I’m delighted I’ve got someone to talk to. If she was gone, I don’t know who we’d have to talk to.“

Coonan has said she is confident the company will get its ship in order in order to be deemed suitable to keep its licence for the new Crown Sydney casino, whose opening has been delayed due to the ILGA inquiry.

She said that Crown “might have a clearer idea on timing” towards the end of April.

More resignations to come at Crown Resorts?

The ILGA’s backing of Coonan comes as Mary Manos resigns as general counsel and company secretary with immediate effect.

Coonan said Manos’s position will now be split into two separate roles.

Chief financial officer Alan McGregor will step in as interim company secretary and will be responsible for communication with the Australian Securities Exchange.

Manos’s resignation follows those of Guy Jalland, Michael Johnston, Andrew Demetriou as well as Ken Barton’s.

The ILGA’s chairman, Philip Crawford has said he believes that more resignations will be needed at Crown in the short term.

In a recent interview, he said that Crown directors Harold Mitchell and John Poynton should “move on”.

Neither directors had made a statement at the time of press.