People news 17 November 2015
The latest people news from the egaming industry in the last seven days (11 December to 17 December 2015)
Gala’s head of casino departs
Gavin Grimes’ departure kicks-off search for new head of Gala Casino at Gibraltar-based operator
Gala Coral Interactive’s head of Gala Casino Gavin Grimes has left the Gibraltar-based operator after more than two years at the firm.
Grimes is understood to have exited the operator to join a new company within the last few weeks, with Gala Coral currently searching for a replacement who will report directly into Gala brand director Alison Digges.
Grimes was promoted to head of Gala Casino last year having originally been hired as head of social gaming in April 2013, overseeing the now defunct free-to-play Buzz Bingo product.
Grimes previously worked in numerous marketing roles at operators such as Sportingbet and Gala Coral’s Italy-facing brand Eurobet, as well as holding the role of managing director at Brighton-based marketing agency McBoom.
Ladbrokes appoints acting CFO
Ladbrokes has appointed its director of investor relations Richard Snow as acting chief financial officer until the firm’s proposed merger with Gala Coral completes.
The acting CFO will take on the role at the end of February, when current CFO Ian Bull departs the post, until the merger completes and Paul Bowtell becomes CFO of the merged company.
Gala Coral’s Bowtell was announced as Ladbrokes Coral’s CFO in July when terms on the merger were agreed.
Seven days in people news:
Scientific Games names Michael Quartieri as CFO
Scientific Games has promoted Michael Quartieri to the role of chief financial officer after incumbent Scott Schweinfurth announced he would retire in November.
Quartieri joined Scientific Games last month as vice president and corporate controller and impressed sufficiently to fend off other internal and external candidates.
He will be based out of the supplier’s Las Vegas headquarters, and will oversee accounting, financial planning and reporting, internal controls, investor relations, treasury, tax, and financial operations.
Tatts chief blasts British rivals
Tatts Group CEO Robbie Cooke has slammed UK-based operators for using the ongoing federal review into offshore wagering as a means to legalise online in-play wagering.
In an interview with Melbourne-based newspaper The Age, Cooke said attempts to remove the in-play betting restriction had originated from Tatts foreign rivals and were motivated by money.
Cooke also said there was “no evidence” to support claims the live betting prohibition, which is contained in the Interactive Gambling Act (IGA) 2001, would see AU$2.2bn wagered on live betting markets with unlicensed operators by 2020.
Online casino supplier GAMING1 has appointed former Amaya and NYX Gaming executive Paul Caffery as its new international business development manager.
Caffery previously worked in a number of commercial roles at egaming firms including Sportech, Stanleybet, NYX Gaming and Amaya.
“They’re a fast-growing company with a clear strategic goal to target newly regulated or regulating markets,” Sylvain Boniver, CEO of GAMING1, said.
“I was particularly impressed with the quality of the platform and the portfolio as a whole. I’m looking forward to help the company continue to achieve excellent growth,” he added.