With comings and goings commonplace across the industry, Kiron Interactive, IWG and Betfred USA are among those to have bolstered their teams.
Betfred USA
Kresimir Spajic has been named as the Chief Executive Officer of Betfred USA, as Bryan Bennett announces a departure from the Chief Operating Officer role.
The former Senior Vice President & Managing Director of Online Gaming and Sports Betting at Hard Rock International will spearhead the sportsbook’s vision, strategy, and operational execution across ten US states, which include the likes of Colorado, Ohio, and Nevada.
Further experience comes from the likes of Great Canadian Entertainment, Apollo Global Management, Rush Street Interactive, Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa, Bwin and more.
“It’s an important and exciting time for our US business and Kresimir is the ideal person to further push and expand the Betfred brand in America,” noted Fred Done, Betfred Founder.
However, departing the group on Friday 22 September is Bennett, who calls time on a near four year stint at the company. Despite having “nothing to announce yet as the immediate future,” he will be taking on some consulting, advising and startup projects.
Addressing his exit on social media, Bennett wrote: “How do I sum up the last four years in one tidy LinkedIn post? This has been one of the most exciting, fun, rewarding, challenging, frustrating, and exhausting experiences of my career…sometimes all in the same day. But it was never boring.”
Sportingtech
Sportingtech have named Michael Jack as Chief Technology Officer, as Dan Stone also secured a promotion at the group to become Marketing Director.
The former will look to boost the company’s technology offering in aiming to ensure that the provider remains “ahead of the curve in explosive emerging markets”, as well as stands posed to enter newly regulated territories.
“Now is an exciting time to join Sportingtech in such a pivotal moment in the company’s growth,” he said of the appointment.
“I look forward to working with the diverse, highly-experienced team and contributing to its continued success going forward as it continues its expansion into thriving regulated global markets.”
Stone confirmed his promotion on LinkedIn, having previously occupied a Head of Marketing position after joining the company in July 2022.
“Thanks to key players in the business for belief and support, in particular that man Colin McDonagh – it’s been a crazy-good journey so far and it looks to get even better too – so watch this space as we’ll have lots to shout about,” he wrote.
US Integrity
Former NFL intelligence analyst Jason Van’t Hof has become the latest addition for US Integrity, joining the company as Vice President of Investigations.
Building on a background that comprises work across the US’ intelligence community, military, and law enforcement agencies, Van’t Hof will be tasked with utilising experience from conducting intelligence operations, investigative support, and program management to drive the group forward,
“Jason will play an integral role in our current and new implementation of investigation processes and procedures as we evolve our investigation tools globally,” commented Matthew Holt, CEO of US Integrity.
“Jason’s experience and core values align perfectly with US Integrity’s mission to keep the integrity of sports as a top priority.
“”Jason brings valuable experience stemming from military and law enforcement sectors, coupled with his previous experience at the NFL Security Department.
“We have a vision of where our company will go from here, and I am very confident that Jason’s leadership and ability to execute will help us get there.”
Kiron Interactive
James Murray has joined Kiron as Head of New Business Development as the provider looks to reinforce its presence across the European gaming ecosystem.
In the position, he will be charged with using experience at companies such as Mitek Systems, Northern Lights Gaming, Games Global and Storm Gaming Technology to “assume a pivotal role” in driving Kiron’s expansion across international and local markets.
Steven Spartinos, Kiron Co-CEO, commented: “We are thrilled to welcome James to the team. With his wealth of industry experience across a range of leading Gaming companies, James will be leading the charge in further developing and expanding Kiron’s footprint in the European territory.
“His appointment is poised to drive substantial growth and further success for Kiron Interactive, which we are excited to realise.”
CallsU
Martina Akerlund has departed the Chief Executive Officer role at sports betting tech firm Triggy to take up a similar role at start-up CallsU.
This will see Akerlund look to build on a background of 20 years in various senior positions within the banking and finance industry to help those that are looking for help with their newly registered conversions and reactivations.
CallsU is a newly launched company that offers customised calls, emails, SMS messaging as well as mobile chat options to boost conversions.
“I am super excited for the possibility to be part of the launch of a new company that offers an
amazing product that adds great value to our customers at prices that are far more reasonable than other providers in the market,” Åkerlund said.
“A fresh start with a company looking to build a great brand, organisation, and communication strategy, wherein I can combine my knowledge from previous roles as CEO, CMO as well as setting efficient organizations and processes which I really enjoy.”
Allwyn Group
Allwyn Group has announced the new leadership team that will oversee the delivery of the Fourth National Lottery, beginning on February 1, 2024.
The conglomerate’s leadership team will be led by CEO Andria Vidler and will oversee the transformation of the National Lottery and the delivery of funds for good causes for the next decade.
Vidler will take leadership of Allwyn UK on 1 October, joining from Tag Worldwide, a leading global marketing production business where she was EMEA CEO.
Allwyn Group CEO Robert Chvátal, who will handover the reins of the UK leadership to Andria Vidler in October, commented: “This is a talented team with deep experience and a strong personal commitment to delivering the very best for communities across the UK through ever greater returns to Good Causes from The National Lottery. Andria and I look forward to working with them all over the coming years.”
IWG
IWG has promoted Jason Lisiecki to the newly created role of Executive Vice President, Global – encompassing oversight of US and international developments.
Lisiecki’s role will be to continue to oversee the company’s partnerships with North American lotteries from a “strategic and product management perspective”, whilst adopting his experience from the lottery sector gained over several years.
“Of course, I continue to be incredibly bullish about the einstant category and innovation in the ilottery sales channel,” he remarked.
“I’m thrilled to step into this new role at IWG and look forward to partnering with all our lottery customers to support their momentum and unlock further opportunities.”
