Victoria regulator CEO to step down in March 2025
Annette Kimmitt calls time on her tenure of leading the Australian state regulator to spend more time with her family and focus on part-time board roles
Annette Kimmitt, the CEO of the Victorian Gambling and Casino Control Commission (VGCCC), has resigned from her post as she looks to spend more time with her family.
She has led the Australian state’s regulator since March 2022 as she was brought in to replace interim CEO Scott May.
A former managing partner and CEO at Australia’s largest law firm, MinterEllison, Kimmitt will step down in March 2025.
She will retain her positions on the boards of investment firms Trawalla Group and Mirrabooka Investments as a non-executive director.
The VGCCC added the CEO had elected to retire from her full-time executive career to focus on spending time with her family.
During her time leading the regulator, Kimmitt and her team led a significant regulatory push against operators, namely Tabcorp.
In August, the operator received its largest-ever fine in Victoria – of A$4.6m – for repeated responsible gambling failures.
That penalty was sandwiched between a A$370,000 fine for allowing a minor to bet in a retail setting and a A$262,000 punishment for in-play violations.
Speaking to The Guardian Australia, Kimmitt said: “I have got my first grand-daughter due in January, my mother is ageing and needs a bit more help. It is just that time of life where I’m deciding to step away from full-time executive work.
“I am really proud of what the organisation has done in three short years. We are now recognised as the nation’s strongest gambling regulator.
“We have really held the industry to account. Since January 2022, we have levied nearly A$260m in fines. We had 88 disciplinary actions against the industry just last year.”
Fran Thorn, VGCCC chair, said: “Annette’s leadership, drive and laser-like focus were fundamental to transforming the VGCCC following the Crown Royal Commission and, by extension, the state’s gambling industry.
“Now recognised as the nation’s strongest gambling regulator, under her stewardship the VGCCC has designed and implemented a new risk-based, intelligence-led approach to regulating Victoria’s gambling industry. This will be her enduring legacy.”
Arnold Ash is EGR’s Executive Recruitment Partner. They support ambitious organisations to identify and attract industry leading executive talent. Find out more here.