Tabcorp names ex-AFL chief as new CEO and MD
Gillon McLachlan's tenure as CEO of the Australian operator will begin in early August as he succeeds Adam Rytenskild following his exit in March
Tabcorp has appointed former Australian Football League (AFL) CEO Gillon McLachlan as the operator’s new CEO and managing director.
McLachlan’s reign at Australia’s largest gambling company does not officially begin until 5 August 2024, until then he will serve in an observer capacity, with Bruce Akhurst acting as executive chairman in the meantime.
Last year saw McLachlan call time on his decade-long stint at the helm of the AFL, during which time he oversaw record growth for the organisation, doubling revenue from A$502m in 2013 to A$1bn in 2023.
As well as spearheading significant revenue growth, McLachlan expanded the entire league to 18 teams and secured the largest sports broadcasting rights deal in Australian history.
In his new role, McLachlan will receive an annual salary of A$1.5m (£781,740), with several bonuses on offer that could further increase his wage, as per Tabcorp’s official announcement.
McLachlan will also be subject to non-solicitation and non-compete clauses of up to 12 months after the termination of employment with the group.
Touching on his new role, the 51-year-old ex-AFL chief said: “Tabcorp is a wagering, broadcast and integrity services business and the challenges of growing it are appealing.
“It’s about creating entertainment for our customers in a safe way and providing a unique customer omnichannel entertainment offering across digital, retail and the media business.
“Tabcorp is a proudly Australian company that contributed A$1.1bn to the racing industry last year and continues to be one of the racing industry’s biggest partners, as well as the wagering licensee in all states, except for WA . This is a really important component of my decision.
“There are enormous opportunities ahead and I’m looking forward to driving the sport category among other things. Tabcorp is part way through its transformation journey and I’m looking forward to working with the leadership team to accelerate and deliver on the growth opportunities.”
Akhurst insisted that McLachlan has all the attributes required to accelerate Tabcorp’s growth.
He added: “Gill needs no introduction – he is recognised as one of Australia’s leading CEOs and securing Gill is a great vote of confidence for Tabcorp’s future.
“We’ve laid strong foundations and Gill brings a growth mindset and the capability to capitalise on the opportunities ahead of us.
“Gill has a deep understanding of sport, racing and wagering, combined with significant commercial acumen which was highlighted in the substantial growth of AFL revenues under his leadership.
“Importantly for us, Gill brings an added dimension of having been responsible for some of the most significant media rights deals in Australian sports history and we’re excited about the potential growth opportunities for our wagering and media business under his leadership.”
News of McLachlan’s appointment as CEO comes three months after his predecessor Adam Rytenskild left the company following allegations of “inappropriate and offensive language” used in the workplace.
Last week, Tabcorp was hit with a A$370,000 fine after pleading guilty to 43 charges relating to allowing minors to gamble in the state of Victoria.
A 17-year-old was discovered to have gambled on multiple occasions via electronic betting terminals between May 2022 and October 2023. The minor was able to bet at 13 different locations in the state, according to the Victorian Gambling and Casino Control Commission.