Niaz Nejad is to join Light & Wonder as Managing Director of Gaming of the Americas as the gaming firm looks to expand its foothold across the region.
Set to bring over 25 years of leadership across gaming, IT, retail, and banking industries, she will officially join the organisation later this year, once a non-compete period ends.
Nejad most recently served as the Senior Vice President and Head of Marketing for US and Canada at Aristocrat Gaming for six months, where she led the overall brand and marketing strategy. This followed a year and a half at the group as Vice President of Business Development and Sales Operations.
Prior to this, Nejad enjoyed an almost ten year stint at the Alberta Gaming, Liquor and Cannabis Commission, where she progressed to Chief Operating Officer and Vice President of Gaming and Cannabis after joining as Director of Gaming and Warehouse Operations and also occupying the role of Vice President of Lottery and Gaming Services.
At the company, she is praised as establishing the company’s provincial gaming and cannabis strategic direction, corporate portfolio, digital transformation, and revenue forecasts.
In addition, she was accountable for sustaining over $1.4bn in annual-net revenues from slot machines, video lottery terminals, electronic bingo, and lottery tickets through policy and gaming product development, and marketing
“I have had the pleasure of working with Niaz within our industry for many years, and I know her values, industry and business experience, as well as her people-centric leadership approach are the perfect fit for our team,” said Siobhan Lane, Light & Wonder CEO of Gaming.
“As we continue to grow in the Americas, and around the world, I can think of no one better than Niaz to help strategically lead us in the right direction.”
