With comings and goings commonplace across the industry, Bacta, Digital and Virgin Hotels Las Vegas are among those to have bolstered their teams with key hires.
FanDuel
FanDuel has confirmed the appointment of Alison Kutler as Vice President of Sustainability and Responsible Gaming.
In the role, she will lead FanDuel’s responsible gambling strategy and sustainability efforts as the group aims to become a leader in consumer protection for the US sportsbook industry.
In addition, Kutler will have influence over an array of teams within the FanDuel business, including responsible gaming policy and regulatory affairs, RG training and product development, RG operations and the advocacy teams.
“We are very fortunate to have a professional of Alison’s calibre join our team in this critical role at such an important time for our company and the industry,” said Christian Genetski, President, FanDuel.
“Alison has had a distinguished career including 25 years’ experience in high-level government and private sector roles leading business, regulatory, policy and public affairs strategies.”
Bacta has announced that a total of 45 members have been elected to take-up positions in the group’s newly announced streamlined structure.
This has seen John Bollom be voted National President, while Joseph Cullis, Owner of Scottish operating company Windmill Leisure, has been named Vice-President – both under two-year terms.
Described as a “fresh chapter” in the history of the UK amusements trade association, Nick Harding, Greg Wood and James Miller are the three past presidents to have been voted onto a new 11-person national council.
“The purpose of the reorganisation was to create a structure which is more aligned to the dynamic nature of the leisure entertainment business that we are all involved in as well as a structure which would appeal to a broader constituency of Bacta members,” Bollom commented.
“Ours is an industry packed with talent and energy and this structure enables Bacta to draw on those talents and attributes, remove the bureaucracy which slows the decision making process down and instead get on representing the business interests of our members with gusto, focus and creativity.”
Virgin Hotels Las Vegas
Cliff Atkinson is to be charged with bringing “extensive knowledge, experience and relationships” to the fore at Virgin Hotels Las Vegas after being named President of the casino resort.
In the role, he will work closely with the executive team through a period of change, and will be charged with “upholding the property’s reputation as a fun and exciting destination for its guests.”
Atkinson is praised as having played a leading role in the success of several high-profile hotels across the US, including Luxor Hotel & Casino, Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group, and Gramercy Park Hotel, and in a corporate capacity at MGM Resorts International, where he led their hospitality centre of excellence.
“It was important to our board to find a leader that possessed not only the knowledge and experience required to drive results at Virgin Hotels Las Vegas, but also the reputation and personality needed to lead and inspire the amazing team that exists on property,” read a statement from the board of JC Hospitality.
“Cliff is that type of leader, and we’re excited to support him as he leads the charge to realize the tremendous potential of Virgin Hotels Las Vegas.”
Future Anthem
Future Anthem has appointed Ann-Kathrin Baumgardt as VP of Sales and Customer Development role for Europe, Middle East & Africa.
In the position, she will be responsible for leading the group’s sales and customer development team in a bid to usher in its next growth phase. She will also work closely with Matt Nichols, General Manager of the Americas, to spearhead the company’s global expansion strategy.
“Artificial intelligence and machine learning is one of the most in-demand technologies within the betting and gaming industry right now. To be part of a company that leads in this field is an incredibly exciting opportunity,” she said.
“I have spent many years working within this industry, and I know exactly what it takes to lead a strong commercial team capable of maximising revenues and developing new and existing customer relationships. I can’t wait to get started with such a talented team.”
Sportsbook and casino platform provider Digitain has appointed Margarita Cruz as Senior Sales Director.
Cruz, who has more than 20 years of industry experience in sales and commercial roles across continental Europe, Latin America, and North America, joins the Digitain Group of companies’ leadership team.
Chief Revenue Officer of Digitain, Iain Hutchison, said: “I’m delighted to have Margarita join our team.
“With a depth of experience in sales and commercial development roles for some major platform providers, Margarita will support, provide and facilitate comprehensive solutions as Digitain expands its services to B2C partner operators in regulated markets.”
