People news 19 May 2016
The latest people news from the egaming industry in the last seven days (13 May to 19 May 2016)
Rational Group COO Rosenthal to depart
Israel Rosenthal to leave in summer while CEO David Baazov and CFO Daniel Sebag will not stand for board re-election
Rational Group’s chief operating officer (COO) Israel Rosenthal will leave his position on 1 August, the group’s parent company Amaya announced this week.
In a Q1 earnings call, Amaya interim CEO Rafi Ashkenazi said Rosenthal was leaving after “many years of service and valued contribution” but would not be directly replaced.
“Following his departure, we will utilise our senior existing management team to assume his responsibilities,” said Ashkenazi.
Rosenthal was only appointed to the role of chief operating officer in April last year, as part of the businesses’ reorganisation following its acquisition by Amaya.
Nektan raids IGT for new CEO
Nektan has appointed IGT commercial director Leigh Nissim as its new chief executive officer (CEO), the mobile gaming provider announced Tuesday.
Effective from late July, Nissim replaces former chief executive David Gosen who resigned from his position in January after a year with the company.
Interim CEO and founder of Nektan, Gary Shaw, will remain with the business as director of strategy.
Seven days in people news:
Paf appoints new chief executive
Paf has named former Tain boss Christer Fahlstedt as its new chief executive officer (CEO) following the dismissal of Anders Ingves earlier this year.
Fahlstedt has over 12 years’ experience in the online gaming industry, most recently as CEO of gaming software provider Betting Promotion Sweden AB and previously CEO of platform supplier Tain.
He replaces former CEO Ingves, who left at the end of January after the Paf board felt it “needed a different type of leader to successfully expand internationally”.
Richard Flint joins Senet Group board
Sky Betting & Gaming (SB&G) CEO Richard Flint has joined the Senet Group board, three months after his company became a member of the self-regulatory body.
Flint was on Monday named an independent director of the Group alongside former NHS professional, Stephen Thornton, who previously worked in senior roles at major healthcare delivery and regulatory organisations.
Chair of the Senet Group, Wanda Goldwag, welcomed the two new members and was particularly pleased to have appointed the CEO of an online-only operator.
Betsson AB has strengthened its corporate management team with the appointment of Pia Rosin as its new vice president of corporate communication.
Rosin, who takes up her role on 20 June, will oversee investor relations and financial communications for the operator.
“Pia will be creating a responsive and shareholder-focused investor relations function,” Ulrik Bengtsson, president and CEO of Betsson AB, said.
“She brings to the role a broad knowledge of our business from her time at Entraction as well as investor relations from her time at Saab,” he continued.