Tabcorp chief customer officer Jenni Barnett has exited the business amid a suite of structural changes made to the wagering company's executive leadership team.

It follows Mi3's reports of 200 redundancies made by the business since October, around one quarter of which are understood to have come out of the customer team, headed by Barnett. GM of marketing and media Vanessa Sanford is also understood to have finished up at Tabcorp this week, in a separate, voluntary exit.

Barnett first joined Tabcorp in May 2022, after nearly four years as executive director of Telstra Digital. She previously spent 16 years in various marketing roles at Commbank.

"This has been a 24/7 gig and I'm leaving on a high. I am very proud of what the team has achieved since the company demerge - we are now competing very well with momentum,” Barnett told Mi3. “The Brand [and brown cardigan] and how we go to market has been reset, we've overhauled our customer and digital proposition, created a best in class data and analytics capability and transformed our ways of working and commercial focus. All critical keys to success. I wanted to recognise our outstanding agency partners for their support also. I am a much more well-rounded executive for the experience and I wish Gill and everyone at Tabcorp the very best.”

Her exit, which comes alongside Chief Information Officer Alan Sharvin, was announced on Friday morning in a statement posted to the ASX, in which the business also outlined a number of newly created roles and appointments ahead of the new year.

Core to the list was the creation of a Chief Wagering Officer, which will bring together "core wagering functions of digital, retail, trading, marketing and product" include Tote innovation. Per Tabcorp, that structure will enable the CWO to control key levers that drive wagering revenue and will better connect the TAB ecosystem.

The search for a candidate is "well advanced" with an appointment expected to be announced in the new year.

In addition, a Chief Commercial and Media Officer role has been created to deliver stronger commercial outcomes and maximise the value of assets across domestic and international media (Sky Racing) and retail footprint. Jarrod Villani, the former EVP and chief operating and commercial officer for Paramount ANZ, has been appointed to this role, bringing with him with him extensive transformation experience, particularly in the Media sector.

"I am also delighted to welcome an experienced commercial executive in Jarrod Villani. Jarrod has extensive transformation experience, particularly in the Media sector. Jarrod’s role will ensure that we deliver stronger commercial outcomes and maximise the unique asset base at Tabcorp, particularly Sky Racing," said Managing Director & CEO Elect, Tabcorp, Gillon McLachlan.

Elsewhere, Narelle McKenzie will join Tabcorp after nearly 20 years at Telstra in the role of Chief Legal Officer, while current Chief Transformation Officer, Robert Fraser, has been elevated into a new remit Chief Technology & Transformation Officer.

"You’re seeing continued change. We will have an executive team with market leading experience in wagering and media. They will be responsible for driving our revenue and will have control of the assets that only Tabcorp has at its disposal in the Australian wagering market," McLachlan said.

"I wish to thank Alan Sharvin and Jenni Barnett for their significant contribution to the business since the demerger in 2022. They’ve played a pivotal role in improving the competitiveness of Tabcorp," McLachlan said.

"We are moving quickly to execute on the exciting opportunities that lie within our unique asset base and today’s changes are an example of that. I look forward to updating shareholders on our progress and our evolved strategy as part of our half year results in February."

The changes are subject to relevant regulatory approvals. 

Tabcorp this week also confirmed the previously foreshadowed retirement of Justin Milne from the Tabcorp Board, effective 31 December 2024. Milne has been a Non-Executive Director since 2011. During his tenure he served on several Board Committees, including most recently as Chairman of the Technology Committee.