Relax Gaming promotes product chief to CEO
Simon Hammon steps up to top job to replace outgoing Tommi Maijala at the Kindred-owned supplier
Relax Gaming has appointed chief product officer Simon Hammon as the supplier’s new CEO.
A veteran of the sector, Hammon is set to replace current CEO Tommi Maijala, who is stepping down after being CEO since November 2019.
Maijala will remain with Relax Gaming until the end of 2022 to support Hammon in his transition to CEO.
Hammon has served as Relax Gaming CPO since January 2018 and will now step up to the top job with the supplier, which was fully acquired by Kindred Group in October 2021.
The transaction valued Relax Gaming at up to €320m. At the time, the firm had 240 full-time employees across Malta, Estonia, Sweden and Serbia.
Prior to joining Relax Gaming, Hammon spent almost seven years with NetEnt as a product manager then chief product officer.
Speaking exclusively to EGR, Hammon said he was looking forward to managing Relax Gaming’s future, which includes global expansion.
He said: “Taking on the role of CEO presents me with a great challenge and opportunity, one that I’m very humbled by, but excited about. Relax is a company that has an exceptionally bright future and we’re keen to get on an even greater growth trajectory.
“Our goals are to ensure that we continue to deliver quality products to our customers at the pace they have come to expect. All the while, we will continue expanding the company’s reaches into new markets.
“Relax has enjoyed rapid growth in recent years and is now maturing into a solid core component of any operator’s portfolio. The company is growing with key regulated markets and global ambitions in mind, and we’re excited to chart the next phase of our journey,” he added.
Touching on Hammon’s promotion, Relax Gaming chair Patrik Österåker said: “We’re absolutely delighted to announce Simon Hammon as Relax Gaming’s newest chief executive officer.
“Relax is continuing steadfast on its journey to claim an ever-larger footprint in the gambling industry, and we believe Simon with his experience, knowledge and vision is the perfect person to lead the team in the coming years.”
Österåker also paid tribute to the outgoing Maijala in a statement accompanying his comments on Hammon.
“Simultaneously, we’d like to take the opportunity to extend our gratitude to our outgoing CEO Tommi Maijala, who has been instrumental in guiding the company through arguably the most pivotal years of our history.
“Simon will be able to continue building boldly, supported by the confidence that a rock-solid foundation provides,” he added.