People news 25 February 2016
The latest people news from the egaming industry in the last seven days (19 February to 25 February 2016)
Intertain CEO John FitzGerald steps down
Operator moves to improve operational management, CFO Keith Laslop to oversee Bahamas subsidiary
Intertain chief executive John FitzGerald has stepped down from his role, kick-starting a major senior management reshuffle as the Canadian operator looks to improve the day-to-day running of its multiple brands and assets.
As part of the shake-up, chief financial officer Keith Laslop will take up a new senior operational management position at the firm’s Intertain Bahamas subsidiary, with an interim CFO set to be announced shortly.
Intertain said it would bolster management at its Bahamas business with a number of new hires, and also planned to bring in new “experienced and qualified” directors to its board as part of its upcoming board-renewal process.
FitzGerald said the role of CEO at Intertain had changed from asset acquisition to operational management following a raft of takeovers that culminated in its ?423m deal to acquire Gamesys’ Jackpotjoy brands, and advised the board to search for a suitable replacement.
Betsson promotes Ulrik Bengtsson to group CEO
Betsson AB has promoted its Malta CEO Ulrik Bengtsson to the role of chief executive and president of the group, the operator announced this week.
Bengtsson begins his new role on 1 March after nearly four years heading up the European gaming giant’s operational business based in Malta (BML Group), however he will continue to serve as CEO of the BML Group.
The appointment brings to an end a drawn-out process to replace Magnus Silfverberg who left in July.
Seven days in people news:
Mr Green plans sportsbook launch and appoints new CEO
Mr Green will add a sportsbook to its online casino later this year and has appointed former Svenska Spel chief executive Jesper K?rrbrink as the new CEO of its Malta-based operation.
Bo W?nghammar will stand down as CEO of Mr Green Malta during the summer and be replaced by K?rrbrink, who had previously been CEO at Swedish monopoly Svenska Spel between 2004 and 2008.
Group CEO Per Norman said W?nghammar would remain with Mr Green to work on “special projects” and praised W?nghammar for the role he had played since being appointed CEO in January 2014.
Leon Thomas leaves NYX to head up Rank bingo brands
Rank Group has hired former Tombola managing director Leon Thomas to lead the development of the operator’s online bingo businesses.
As chief operating officer for digital bingo brands, Thomas will be responsible for driving growth through the operator’s Mecca and Enracha brands and play a prominent role in delivering Rank’s multi-channel strategy.
Thomas will start his new role today (Thursday) where he will report into the managing director of Mecca Bingo Martin Pugh and work closely with group director of digital and cross-channel services Colin Cole-Johnson.
Former Hills and Betfair director becomes COO at Win Cash Live
Win Cash Live has hired former William Hill and Betfair director Jim Supple as its chief operating officer as the recently launched bookie continues to build its nascent Bournemouth-based operation.
Supple, who spent more than 20 years at William Hill, including an 18-month stint as retail operations director, will take on the day-to-day running of the firm where he will work alongside chief executive Ashley Faull.
As trading director at Betfair, Supple led a major overhaul of the operator’s Dublin-based trading functions in 2011, after which he remained with the firm until 2012 as a consultant to group operations.
Playtech has appointment non-executive director, John Jackson, as chairman of the Board’s Remuneration Committee, the egaming supplier announced this week.
Jackson takes up the role with immediate effect, succeeding non-executive director, Paul Hewitt, who remains chairman of the Risk and Compliance Committee and a member of the Remuneration Committee; Audit Committee; and Nominations Committee.
In related news, the Playtech’s chairman, Alan Jackson, also stood down as a member of the Audit Committee on 22 February.