Crown Resorts has appointed Victoria’s former minister for racing, Martin Pakula, as chairman of Crown Melbourne.
Pakula will join the board of directors of Crowne Melbourne on 1 May and will assume the role of chairman on 1 July, replacing Ian Silk, who is stepping down after two and a half years in the role.
Pakula joins Crown Resorts after an extensive political career with the Australian Labor Party and the state of Victoria, including serving as Victoria’s minister for racing between 2014 to 2022. He also currently serves as chair of the Australian Grand Prix Corporation.
“Martin’s appointment comes at an exciting time as Crown continues to focus on innovation and growth,” said Crown Resorts CEO David Tsai. “I look forward to Crown benefiting from Martin’s extensive industry and leadership experience. I would like to express my sincere thanks to Ian for his exceptional leadership and the pivotal role he played in overseeing Crown Melbourne’s extensive transformation.”
Pakula commented: “I am delighted to accept the role of Chair at Crown Melbourne and to play a role in its exciting future. Crown is an iconic business that is a critical part of Victoria’s economy, tourism and entertainment industry.”