The Victorian government has announced former Ernst & Young executive Annette Kimmitt as the inaugural CEO of the state’s newly formed gaming regulator, the Victorian Gambling and Casino Control Commission (VGCCC).
Kimmitt will take the helm from 21 March 2022, with VGCCC Chair Fran Thorn citing her experience and leadership skills as central to her selection following an “extensive” recruitment process.
“Her background in the business world and her experience in audit and risk management in particular will be a huge asset to our regulation of the gambling and liquor industries and ensuring harm minimisation,” Thorn said.
Kimmitt, who takes over from Acting CEO Scott May, has more than 37 years’ professional and commercial experience, including several executive leadership roles with major Australian and international firms, the government said in announcing her appointment.
She previously served in several high-profile leadership roles with Ernst & Young, including Global Growth Markets Leader, Asia-Pacific Accounts Managing Partner, Melbourne Managing Partner and Managing Partner Assurance.
More recently she served as CEO and Managing Partner of Australia’s largest law firm, MinterEllison, from October 2018 to March 2021.
Taking over regulation of the state’s gambling industry from the Victorian Commission for Gambling and Liquor Regulation (VCGLR), the establishment of a dedicated casino and gambling regulator is part of the fallout from the recent Royal Commission into Crown Melbourne, which ultimately found Crown unsuitable to retain its casino license but granted a two-year window within which to prove suitability.
First announced in August amid concerns its predecessor had lacked the resources to properly regulate Crown, the separation of liquor and gaming will allow the VGCCC to “focus solely on regulating casino and gambling operators and minimizing harm,” the government said previously, “with a dedicated casino division and commissioners focusing solely on the casino operator.”
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