Tabcorp said the role brings together the core wagering functions of digital, retail, trading, marketing and product, including Tote innovation. The search process to fill the position is “well advanced” and Tabcorp expects to announce an appointment in early 2025.

Meanwhile, the new chief commercial and media officer role, Tabcorp said, will help deliver stronger commercial outcomes. Jarrod Villani, most recently the regional leader of media business Paramount ANZ, has been appointed to the position.

Villani will also be tasked with maximising assets across domestic and international media and the retail footprint. In addition, he takes responsibility for Tabcorp’s Max gaming services business.

Other new additions to the leadership team

Alongside this, Tabcorp has made several other appointments across its executive leadership team. These include Narelle McKenzie taking on the role of chief legal officer.

McKenzie joins Tabcorp after almost 20 years at Telstra, where she served in multiple general counsel roles. During her career, McKenzie has advised various regulated technology and telecommunications companies in Australia and the UK.

Elsewhere, Robert Fraser has been appointed as chief technology and transformation officer at Tabcorp. He previously worked as the group’s chief transformation officer, overseeing the design and execution of the Genesis Programme and successful separation from the Lottery Corporation.

Tabcorp noted that all appointments are subject to relevant regulatory approvals. The group also revealed that as part of the executive leadership team reshuffle, chief customer officer Jenni Barnett and chief information officer Alan Sharvin are leaving the business.

Tabcorp says changes will help drive growth

Commenting on the changes, Tabcorp managing director and CEO-elect Gillon McLachlan said the new-look team represents a simpler model that will help bring the wagering team together.

“The changes to our structure will increase our wagering capability and drive growth across both wagering and media,” McLachlan said. “It allows one executive to control the key wagering assets within our ecosystem.

“You’re seeing continued change. We will have an executive team with market leading experience in wagering and media. They will be responsible for driving our revenue and will have control of the assets that only Tabcorp has at its disposal in the Australian wagering market.

“We are moving quickly to execute on the exciting opportunities that lie within our unique asset base and today’s changes are an example of that.”

Year of change at Tabcorp

The announcement comes at the end of a year of significant change for Tabcorp. In March, Adam Rytenskild resigned as CEO and managing director amid allegations of “inappropriate and offensive” language in the workplace.

At the time, Tabcorp said its board had become aware of the allegations, with this language being “inconsistent” with his leadership. Following discussions with the board, Rytenskild tendered his resignation.

McLachlan was appointed as his replacement in June. He was previously chief executive of the Australian Football League (AFL).

However, the saga may not necessarily be over. In a November interview with the Australian Financial Review, Rytenskild hit out at how Tabcorp handled the situation, saying he was put “six feet under” without warning.