Star Entertainment Group has announced the appointment of Grant Bowie, former CEO of MGM China, as a non-executive director.
In his new role, Bowie will serve as an observer to Star’s board, subject to various regulatory and ministerial approvals.
Bowie brings with him more than 40 years of experience in tourism, gaming and hospitality. He began his career in finance, working in public accounting and consulting roles across New Zealand, Australia and the US.
Bowie worked at Hilton Hotels Corporation in Australia for 16 years, the latter five of which he was responsible for gaming and hospitality operations on the Gold Coast and in Brisbane.
In 2003, Bowie moved to Macau, first working for Wynn Resorts before moving on to MGM Resorts. He was appointed CEO and executive director of MGM China in 2008 and continued to lead the business until 2020.
“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 Star,” said Soo Kim, chairman of Star.
Cost cutting pays off at Star in H1
Bowie’s appointment came after Star published its half-year results in March. These revealed a relatively successful period for the group, with net loss being reduced despite a decline in revenue.
Normalised revenue in the six months ended 31 December 2025 hit A$584.9m, compared to A$650m in the previous year. Normalised EBITDA showed a loss of A$7.6m, in contrast to an A$26m loss in H1 FY25. Statutory revenue topped A$694.6m, down 4.1% year-on-year.
The cut in net loss came against a background of cost saving initiatives at Star. These include streamlining its corporate office and shifting support functions to the property level.
At the time, Star said there was some uncertainty on lender support, refinancing execution, regulatory outcomes and asset transactions. However, there was better news later in March when the group secured a binding refinancing deal worth around A$550m.
Agreed with WhiteHawk Capital Partners, this provided the casino operator’s balance sheet with a boost. It followed the signing of a non-binding agreement in February, with the funds expected to help settle existing debts and add new liquidity.
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