With comings and goings commonplace across the industry, The Unit, Bede Gaming and The Health Lottery have moved to bolster their teams with key hires.
The Health Lottery
Lebby Eyres has been appointed as Chief Executive Officer and The Health Lottery after joining the business in January amid a handover period with outgoing CEO Des Duffy, who left the company this week.
Eyres, who has a deep history with the Lottery’s parent company Northern & Shell, will oversee a website relaunch as well as introduction of a fresh brand identity later in the year.
Her previous history with the aforementioned group includes a more than 14 year stint that culminated in an Editor-In-Chief role of of the new! and Star magazines for five years between 2013 and 2018.
“We are delighted to welcome Lebby back into the Northern & Shell family,” commented Martin Ellice, joint group Managing Director at Northern & Shell.
“In her previous roles she was a strong leader and played an integral role in the company’s strategy. In particular, she was a key player in the transformation of the media business from print-led to digital-first prior to its sale to Reach PLC.
“The Health Lottery is going through a similar transition, and is moving towards a more data-driven approach. We believe Lebby will do an excellent job of managing the different and exciting opportunities presented by both the digital and retail arms of the business.”
Super Group
Alan Alger has confirmed that he is departing his position as Director of Corporate Communications for Super Group, having worked with the firm during a transformational period.
He first joined Betway Group in November 2014 as a PR Manager, before climbing the ranks over the course of the following eight years to become Head of Corporate Communications and PR in October 2019.
He was promoted to his now-outgoing Director role in October 2021 for the wider Super Group, which encompasses the aforementioned brand as well as the Spin online casino operator.
“After nearly eight and a half years of loyal service and wholehearted dedication to Super Group and its associated brands (including Betway), my time in the business has come to an end,” a LinkedIn statement read.
“With the NYSE listed company no longer requiring a Director of Corporate Communications. There are some great individuals across the Super Group business and brands, I wish those people every success for the future.”
The Unit
Digital marketing platform The Unit has added extensive industry experience to its senior team via the hires of Andy Clerkson and Rob Egan.
Clerkson joins the firm as a Strategic Advisor, which will see him leverage knowledge of betting and gaming gained via tenures at prominent firms including Fox Bet, The Stars Group, William Hill and SportCaller, which he served as Chair.
He is charged with playing a key role in working towards The Unit’s ambition to “cement” its status as a “world-class service provider” to betting and gaming companies.
Furthermore, Egan has been appointed as The Unit’s Business Development Director, having previously worked with Clerkson at SportCaller. After the firm was acquired by Bally’s Interactive, he became the parent company’s Head of Free-to-Play across North America.
Paddy Casey, the firm’s Co-Founder, explained: “I am thrilled to add two such senior and successful industry executives to our team. Andy built a terrific business in exactly the space The Unit is in and I had the good fortune to work with him there at Grand Parade and witness the incredible growth.
“Rob was instrumental in building SportCaller, the most successful free-to-play gaming company in the industry. Both have worked with global operators for many years, and I’m certain their eclectic know-how will allow us to continue to be industry leaders in product, both innovation and development, as well as MarTech, as we grow our worldwide footprint into new territories.”
Bede Gaming
Bede Gaming has made an addition to its C-level management team via the announcement of Kirsty Stewart as Chief Legal and Client Services Officer.
Her responsibilities will revolve around combining the client and legal elements of Bede’s business, as the firm seeks to demonstrate “maturity and commitment to governance” at the senior level.
Colin Cole-Johnson, CEO, noted: “Kirsty is an expert on Bede’s existing commercial relationships, playing a pivotal role in ongoing customer contracts as well as new business activity.
“It makes perfect sense for her skillset to sit within our Executive Team, helping shape our ongoing commercial and customer strategies.”
MGM Resorts
Producer and director Ben Winston has been named as the latest addition to the MGM Resorts board of directors, where he becomes the 12th member.
A founding partner of the production company Fulwell 73, Winston has earned 12 Emmy Awards and 31 Emmy nominations. He became the youngest show producer of a late-night show in America, as the co-executive producer of The Late Late Show with James Corden in 2015.
“We are excited to welcome Ben to the board and know that his vast entertainment experience will be a tremendous asset as the company continues to expand its gaming and entertainment offerings,” said Paul Salem, Chair of the MGM Resorts Board of Directors.
“Ben’s creativity, passion and leadership will be most valuable as he advises the board and management on ways to continue driving unparalleled guests experiences today, while also innovating for the future.”
