People news 6 August 2015
The latest people news from the egaming industry in the last seven days (31 July to 6 August 2015)
Will Hill Aus rings changes as senior duo depart
Chief operating officer Isaac Ward follows trading and risk director Brad Smyth through the exit door
Two senior members of William Hill’s Australian management team have left the firm as part of ongoing changes following the integration of the Tom Waterhouse, Centrebet and Sportingbet brands.
Sources close to the company confirmed that chief operating officer Isaac Ward left the operator, while trading and risk director Brad Smyth exited earlier this month.
William Hill declined to comment on the reason for the departures, however eGR understands they represent changing skillset requirements as the operator repositions its Australia-facing business.
Ward joined online bookie TomWaterhouse.com.au as commercial director back in early 2014 before becoming COO of Hills’ Australian business in July that year. The Tom Waterhouse business was acquired by William Hill for an initial fee of AU$34m (£20m) in August 2013.
Bwin.party ‘streamlines’ Italian division
Bwin.party has completed a “streamlining” of its Italian business in a move which has also seen country manager Francesco Gaziano leave the firm.
Gaziano, who joined from social gaming firm King.com Italia in March 2013, left bwin.party last week and has since been replaced by the firm’s sports product marketing manager Moreno Marasco.
The switch forms part of wider changes at bwin.party’s Milan and Rome offices, with the firm recently completing its long-planned migration of three platforms – bwin, PartyPoker and Gioco Digitale.
Speaking to eGR, a spokesperson for bwin.party said it was unable to comment on specific personnel changes but said the operator had “reshaped” its team following the integration process.
Seven days in people news:
William Hill head of acquisition named new 10Bet MD
William Hill Online’s head of acquisition David Bazak has left the firm to join SBTech-powered sports betting operator 10Bet as its new managing director.
Bazak was head of acquisition for the UK operator’s online arm for nearly three years and was responsible for leading its Tel-Aviv based affiliation team and managing the firm’s online campaigns, including its social and mobile acquisition strategy.
He handed in his notice on the 16 July and following a period of gardening leave will join 10Bet on 23 August to become the sportsbook’s first managing director.
Slovenia-based gaming supplier Comtrade Gaming has announced the appointment of Igor Rus as its new head of business development and marketing.
Rus joins Comtrade from Interpremium where he worked in business development for over a year and was previously general manager at Maestral, Resort and Casino.
“Rus shares our worldwide vison and his complimentary skills are a great match for our strategic plans to grow and develop the depth of our global offer,” Comtrade Gaming’s general manager, AleÅ¡ Gornjec, said.
“He is a strong addition to our senior leadership team and we are excited to have him join our company,” he added.