Exclusive: Full Tilt hunting for new CEO
Poker operator to bring in permanent chief based in Dublin
Full Tilt Poker is hunting for a new CEO, eGaming Review has learned, with its Dublin-based owners appointing a leading executive recruitment firm to head up the search.
Rational FT Services, the division which operates the Full Tilt brand, has enlisted the services of executive search firm Odgers Berndtson with regards to the role, according to eGR sources. eGR understands that the new CEO will be based in Dublin, while the search process is believed to still be ongoing.
Rational Group chief operating officer Rafi Ashkenazi has been involved in the day-to-day operations of the Full Tilt and PokerStars brands since joining the Isle of Man licensee earlier this year, however the group opted not to appoint a CEO ahead of relaunching the FTP brand in November and has yet to name a permanent incumbent for the role.
Upon relaunch Full Tilt was a clear second for online cash poker traffic, behind PokerStars itself, but has since slipped behind PartyPoker and iPoker to a low of fourth place last month, according to tracking site Pokerscout. Second, third and fourth spot have fluctuated between the three in the weeks since.
Former FTP chief executive Ray Bitar was precluded from being involved with the company following Rational Group’s acquisition of selected Full Tilt assets in July last year. Bitar, who was indicted on Black Friday and subject to a superseding indictment last year, this month reached a guilty plea with US authorities but will avoid jail time due to a serious heart condition.
According to poker blog FlushDraw.com, a forfeiture order was filed this week with regards to the former CEO’s assets.
A spokesperson for Rational Group couild not be reached for comment at the time of writing.