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Friday, October 23, 2026

The Star announces Soo Kim as new Chairman, with Bruce Mathieson Jr shifting to CEO

The Star announces that Soo Kim is its new Chairman, with Bruce Mathieson Jr shifting to CEO role, amongst other changes to the board.

Kelsey Wilhelm Kelsey WilhelmDecember 17, 2025 · 1 min read
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Australian gaming operator The Star is going through yet another management shift, with Bruce Mathieson Jr stepping down as Chairman of the Board, to be replaced by Soo Kim.

The decision was made during a board meeting the same day (December 16th) that former CEO Steve McCann stepped down from his role, effective immediately.

While exiting as Chairman, Bruce Mathieson Jr has been appointed to the role just vacated by McCann and will remain on the company’s Board as an Executive Director.

The Board is also undergoing a further reshuffle, with Peter Hodgson and Toni Thornton – both with backgrounds at The Star before its new capital investment – stepping down from their roles as Non-Executive Directors of the company (effective from December 16th).

The Star underwent a AU$300 million ($193.5 million) investment from Bally’s and Mathieson-controlled Investment Holdings just weeks prior to the upper management changes.

These included the appointment of Bruce Mathieson Jr as Chairman, Soo Kim – Chairman of Bally’s Corporation and George Papanier – President and CEO of Bally’s Corporation.  The further appointment of Don Pasquariello as a Non-Executive Director of The Star has not yet received regulatory approval.

Speaking of the the CEO shift, The Star’s new Chairman Soo Kim noted “We are fortunate to have Bruce lead our company as CEO. George and I understand what an honor and responsibility it is to join and contribute to the Board. We are confident our best days are ahead.”

Kelsey Wilhelm
Written by Kelsey Wilhelm Kelsey Wilhelm is a print and broadcast journalist and editor. Based in Asia for over 20 years, he saw the birth of Macau's rampantly successful gaming industry, propelling him into the world of casinos. Now focusing on all markets throughout Asia, he embraces new technologies and trends, from sports betting to online gaming – always seeking the new frontier. More from Kelsey Wilhelm →