James Packer steps down as a director of Crown Resorts – Retort from The Daily Telegraph, Sidney

James Packer steps down as a director of Crown Resorts

James Packer and girlfriend Mariah Carey pictured in September in New York City. Picture: Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images

 

BILLIIONAIRE casino mogul James Packer has stepped down as a director of Crown Resorts, effective immediately. 

 

Mr Packer resigned as chairman of Crown Resorts in August, stepping aside for Robert Rankin. At the time the company announced that Mr Packer would serve as a senior executive director.

He will remain as co-chairman of Crown’s joint venture, Melco Crown Entertainment, which operates casinos in Macau and Manila.

Mr Packer, whose private investment company is Crown’s controlling shareholder with a stake of 53.01 per cent, said he had decided to quit as a director of Crown Resorts following a smooth transition by Mr Rankin into the chairman’s role and the stable functioning of the Crown board and management.

He will still be involved with Crown, devoting his energies to key development projects in Sydney, Melbourne and Las Vegas, and Crown’s online platforms.

“Of course, I remain incredibly passionate about Crown and its world-class integrated resort businesses,” Mr Packer said in a statement on Monday.

“Crown is my biggest professional priority and represents the vast majority of my net wealth.”

 

It was announced today that Packer’s girlfriend Mariah Carey would headline a New Year’s Eve bash at Crown Casino in Melbourne.

The pop diva, 45, will perform some of her biggest hits for 1200 revellers at the casino, News Corp reported on Monday.

 

“I can’t wait to get back to Australia, I have so many of my friends and fans there and the country really means so much to me,” she said

“To be heading over for New Year’s Eve with James and to be able to put on a performance at Crown Melbourne — it’s incredibly exciting.

“Australia really will be the place to celebrate in the new year and I am counting down the days.”