As the $8.3 billion merger of bookmaker Tatts Group Limited with fellow Australian sportsbetting giant Tabcorp Holdings Limited nears completion, the boss of the former has announced that he will be leaving in order to take up a similar role with small business banking and payment services firm Tyro Payments Limited.

Robbie Cooke (pictured) has served as Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer for Brisbane-based Tatts Group Limited since 2012 and before that worked in a similar capacity for hotel and holiday reservations website Wotif.com.

However, with his current employer soon set to complete its amalgamation with Tabcorp Holdings Limited, Cooke has revealed that he will be stepping down in March in order to succeed Rob Ferguson as Chief Executive Officer for Sydney-based Tyro Payments Limited.

In his new role, Cooke explained that he will endeavor to help Tyro Payments Limited to execute its strategy of providing small and medium-sized enterprises across Australia with frictionless banking and lending access.

“I am very excited to be joining the Tyro Payments Limited team and look forward to continuing Tyro Payments Limited’s unique focus on serving the banking needs of Australia’s small and medium businesses,” read a Tuesday statement from Cooke.

Established in 2005, Tyro Payments Limited utilizes an in-house and cloud-based mobile core banking platform to supply deposit and lending products to in excess of 20,000 Australian enterprises. It processed payments worth well over $8 billion last year while generating revenues of almost $98 million, which represented an increase of 26% year-on-year.

“After conducting an exhaustive local and international search, the board is delighted to announce Robbie’s appointment,” read a statement from Kerry Roxburgh, Chairman for Tyro Payments Limited. “We believe he possesses all the skills and experience to lead Tyro Payments Limited into a new and ground-breaking chapter.”