SkyCity Auckland Loses COO

Auckland, New Zealand, casino company SkyCity cited personal reasons for the sudden departure of chief operating officer Stuart Wing after 15 months.

NZ media later discovered Wing was being treated for alcohol dependence at the Augustus Clinic for Alcohol and Drug Treatment and been convicted of a speeding incident after refusing police a blood test.

This revelation caused a problem for the NZ Government, which is in negotiations with SkyCity to build a $350 million convention centre in Auckland in return for gambling concessions.

Wing has returned to his native Australia, where he was managing director of Jupiters Hotel and Casino on the Gold Coast. Jupiters is looking for a new head but ruled out Wing’s return.