Exclusive: 888 poker chief Gareth Edwards exits
Internal memo seen by eGaming Review reveals director has resigned from operator after nearly seven years
888’s poker director Gareth Edwards is to leave the company after almost seven years, eGaming Review has learned.
It is understood he has yet to secure another role and it’s not known at this stage who his replacement will be.
Edwards joined the operator in 2007 as director of poker marketing and has since been instrumental in changing the fortunes of its poker business.
Under Edwards’ stewardship, 888 scooped eGR’s poker operator of the year 2012 (pictured, second from right) and June this year saw the company overtake PartyPoker in the traffic rankings for the first time.
A focus on recreational players following the launch of Poker 6, the operator’s new software introduced in June 2010, saw 888’s poker revenues outperform the industry and today’s H1 results revealed 888’s poker revenues were up 13% year-on-year to $47m.
Edwards led 888’s expansion into the US market, including clinching a software supply agreement in Nevada with CIE and a second deal with Treasure Island casino to use the Nevada company’s licence to launch its B2C poker brand in the state.
In his role as director of marketing and strategy Edwards clinched a sponsorship agreement with Caesars Interactive Entertainment (CIE), to provide live streaming coverage of the US company’s World Series of Poker Europe and World Series of Poker Asia-Pacific tournaments.
He also signed Australian cricketing hero Shane Warne and Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) champion Georges St-Pierre as brand ambassadors.
Edwards was contacted by eGR however he declined to comment. 888 was contacted separately and also declined to comment.