The Ontario Alcohol and Gaming Commission (AGCO) has designated Dr. Karin Schnarr as its incoming Chief Executive Officer and Registrar, with her tenure commencing on September 18, 2023.
Dr. Schnarr joins the AGCO from the Lazaridis School of Business and Economics at Wilfrid Laurier University, where she held the position of Associate Professor of Strategic Management.
Throughout her period at Laurier, she also maintained a joint appointment with Political Science and engaged in both teaching and research within the field of strategic management.
During her time at Laurier, Dr. Schnarr functioned as the Director of both the Master of Business Administration (MBA) and Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) programs and held a seat on the University’s Board of Governors and Senate.
Furthermore, Dr. Schnarr possesses substantial experience within the Ontario government, having fulfilled several high-ranking leadership positions, including that of Deputy Minister, where she provided direction on matters of public policy, regulatory frameworks, and legislative initiatives.
She also held the role of Chair for the Ontario Women’s Economic Empowerment Expert Panel, a collective committed to tackling the distinct obstacles women encounter in the professional sphere, encompassing areas such as underrepresentation in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) fields and entrepreneurship.
In recent times, Dr. Schnarr served as a member of the Board of Directors for iGaming Ontario and as the Chair of its Corporate Affairs Committee.
A spokesperson for AGCO conveyed the firm’s enthusiasm regarding Dr. Schnarre’s addition to their executive group. They further communicated appreciation for the departing Chief Executive Officer and Secretary, Tom Mungham, who had previously disclosed his intentions to retire in March.
This announcement follows closely on the heels of AGCO levying a $100,000 penalty against Apollo Entertainment for failing to comply with Ontario’s regulations for responsible gaming practices.
