Danske Spil CEO to step down

Danish operator Danske Spil is on the lookout for a new CEO after Hans Christian Madsen revealed he will step down from the role in 2017.

After 12 years with the operator, Madsen will leave on 1 April and the company’s search for a new CEO is already underway, with a successor expected to be announced in early 2017.

During his tenure, the company has gone through a transformation from state-owned monopoly to a competitive company, according to chairman Peter G?¦melke.

“Nobody expected that Danske Spil would fare liberalisation as well and still be the biggest gaming provider in Denmark,” said G?¦melke.

“He [Madsen] leaves behind a well-run company with a solid profit,” he added.

Meanwhile, the company’s slogan has been ruled misleading and banned by Denmark’s Consumer Ombudsman, a decision which left Danske Spil “very surprised”.

The consumer watchdog ruled that the firm’s “To the joy and benefit” slogan could mislead customers into believing the profits go to distribution funds, and not, as is the case, the state.

DOGA chief executive Morten Ronde described the ruling as “pretty straightforward” and revealed the firm had been told two years ago the slogan was not allowed.

“They indicated something that was completely wrong because the slogan was created to show their profits go to good causes of the nation, something they used to do,” Ronde told eGaming Review.

“It was a powerful message that they have been misusing. I think it’s been a shame that they have been using this, the case has been ongoing for two years now,” he added.