The Ontario Alcohol and Gaming Commission (AGCO) has named a new Chief Executive Officer and Registrar. On September 18th, Dr. Karin Schnarr stepped into her new position, bringing extensive experience from her time in academia and public service.
Previously, Dr. Schnarr held the position of Associate Professor of Strategic Management at the Lazaridis School of Business and Economics, Wilfrid Laurier University. Her university work centered on policy, strategy, and leadership. She also held significant administrative positions, including Director of both the Master of Business Administration and Bachelor of Business Administration programs.
In addition to her academic contributions, Dr. Schnarr possesses a comprehensive understanding of government policy and regulation. She served as Chief of Staff within the Ontario government, where she was instrumental in developing legislation and public policy. Her dedication to the economic empowerment of women is apparent in her role as Chair of the Ontario Women’s Directorate, where she advocated for initiatives to eliminate obstacles faced by women in STEM fields and entrepreneurship.
In her most recent role, Dr. Schnarr served on the board of iGaming Ontario as Chair of their Corporate Affairs Committee. This position provided her with valuable knowledge of the gaming industry, which will be directly relevant to her new responsibilities at the AGCO.
An AGCO spokesperson conveyed the company and its directors’ excitement about Dr. Schnarre joining the team. They also expressed sincere appreciation for the departing CEO and Corporate Secretary, Tom Mungham, who shared his retirement intentions in March 2023 and received warm accolades for his contributions.
This announcement follows a distinct event concerning AGCO. The Ontario Alcohol and Gaming Commission recently imposed a C$100,000 (roughly US$74,387) penalty on the organization for not upholding responsible gaming protocols connected to Apollo Entertainment.