Following a brief industry hiatus, Elen Barber has returned by stepping into the role of Managing Director of Online operations for SkyCity Entertainment Group.
Indeed, the former Kindred and Super Group Chief Marketing Officer brings a wealth of experience to this new role, which will see her spearhead strategy and initiatives for SkyCity’s growing online department looking forwardd – with New Zealand’s online gaming landscape bound for significant change in the coming years.
Announcing the news via LinkedIn, Barber stated the following on her new appointment: “I'm thrilled to share that I've joined SkyCity Entertainment Group as Managing Director - Online. This is an exciting opportunity to lead and shape the next phase of SkyCity's online growth, and I look forward to working with the team to build a high-performing, innovative and sustainable business.”
This latest appointment comes as part of a period of executive change for SkyCity, which saw its former CRO Carolyn Kidd step down from her position in January of this year. More recently, the operator also welcomed new CFO Blair Woodbury last month – simultaneously unveiling a H1 revenue decline of 2.4% year-on-year to NZ$411.7m (US$243.1m) for the fiscal year 2026.
Earlier this month, SkyCity was reported to be open to a potential class action lawsuit over its online gaming operations – the very same department which Barber now joins as part of this latest appointment – for potentially unlawful offshore online gaming operations. Prior to this, the New Zealand-based operator also announced the 15-year renewal of its Queenstown licence in Q4 2025.
New Zealand is set to regulate and open its previously restricted online casino industry in the next 12 months
