People news 22 January 2015
The latest people news from the egaming industry in the last seven days (16 January to 22 January 2015)
Gala Coral names Robert Fell as head of web and mobile
Ex-Paddy Power man promoted to lead Gala Coral’s desktop and mobile product teams
Gala Coral has promoted Robert Fell to the position of head of web and mobile following the recent restructure of the operator’s digital business.
Fell previously held the role of mobile product development manager at the firm but will now lead the development of Gala Coral’s desktop and mobile products, reporting directly into product and gaming development director Itay Fisher.
Fell joined Gala Coral in January 2014 as gaming product owner from Paddy Power, where he had spent more than two-and-a-half years serving as product and operations manager.
In June he stepped up to become mobile product development manager, assuming responsibility for the product management and development of the brand’s gaming apps.
NordicBet hunting for new MD after Garfield exits
Betsson AB-owned NordicBet is on the lookout for a new managing director following the departure of incumbent Neill Garfield.
Garfield, who also headed-up Betsson’s casino brand Maxino, left the operator in December some 18 months after joining the company from financial trading firm Forex Trader.
He had previously been head of marketing at Australian operator Tom Waterhouse ahead the firm’s sale to William Hill, and was also online marketing manager at Paddy Power.
Seven days in people news:
BoyleSports appoints new CMO
BoyleSports has appointed Neill Garfield as its new chief marketing officer, bringing to an end a three-month search to find a successor for the departed James Arnold.
A spokesperson for the Irish operator confirmed the hire, with the appointment of Garfield coming just days after eGR had reported him to have left his role as managing director of Betsson’s Nordics-facing sportsbook brand NordicBet.
Garfield had previously been head of marketing at Australian operator Tom Waterhouse ahead the firm’s sale to William Hill, and was also online marketing manager at Paddy Power earlier in his career.
Garbo CEO Marcus Nylén leaves Mr Green Group
Garbo.com chief executive Marcus Nylén has left the Mr Green Group-owned casino brand, just weeks after group CEO Mikael Pawlo announced his departure.
A spokesperson for the firm confirmed Nylén had decided to leave the firm and said his duties would be shared around the team at Mr Green subsidiary DSRPTV Gaming Ventures with no direct replacement to be hired.
Nylén initially joined the group as chief executive of online casino Mr Green in February 2013, and it remains unclear as to whether he plans to remain in the industry.
Former Betfred Digital MD Sheffield lands US egaming role
Former Betfred Digital managing director Chris Sheffield has been hired to lead the newly-formed interactive gaming division of US casino and racetrack operator, Penn National.
Sheffield has been appointed senior vice-president and managing director of iGaming, and will oversee the operator’s long-awaited move into the online space.
Sheffield, who left Betfred in July last year after three and half years in the role, is in the process of relocating to the US where he will report directly to Penn National chief exec Timothy Wilmott.
Unibet appoints new Australia GM
Unibet has named Peter Staunton as the new general manager of its Australia business.
He commenced the Sydney-based role last week and replaces Patrik Andersson, who is returning to Unibet’s London office to take up a new position.
Staunton has more than a decade of experience within the Australian wagering market at the likes of Tabcorp – as general marketing manager for four years – and Centrebet, where he was business development manager.
Nektan appoints former Xbox VP as new CEO
Mobile gaming supplier Nektan has strengthened its management team with the appointment of digital and gaming specialist David Gosen as its chief executive officer.
Gosen joins Nektan from market research firm Nielsen, where he was European managing director of media, digital and mobile. He previously held vice-president and MD roles at Xbox Europe and Nintendo Europe respectively.
Gosen, who was also CEO and president at video game developer I-play, has been handed responsibility for Nektan’s day-to-day operations with an emphasis on product development and building European business opportunities.