With comings and goings commonplace across the industry, Four Winds Casinos, Mohegan and GAN are among those to have seen changes to their teams recently.
Four Winds Casinos
The Pokagon Band of Potawatomi‘s Four Winds Casinos has promoted Mary Smith to the position of Chief Operating Officer.
Smith has been with Four Winds since 2007, most recently serving as Executive Vice President of Casino Operations. She is a citizen of the Pokagon Band of Potawatomi and is also the first female executive to serve as COO of Four Winds Casinos.
“We are very pleased to promote Mary Smith to the role of Chief Operating Officer,” commented Rebecca Richards, Tribal Council Chair of the Pokagon Band and CEO of the Pokagon Gaming Authority.
“In addition to being a Pokagon Citizen and the first female executive to take the helm as COO, Mary is a long-time member of our casino operations team, who has been with us from the beginning.
“Her knowledge and diverse experience with the inner workings of our organisation will provide her with the necessary perspective and insight to lead Four Winds Casinos into the future.”
Smith added: “It is a tremendous honour to be named COO of Four Winds Casinos. I want to thank Chairwoman Richards and the Pokagon Gaming Authority for their confidence in my ability to serve on the casino operations team in this capacity. I look forward to continuing my service to my tribe and leading Four Winds Casinos for years to come.”
Digicode
Software solutions provider Digicode has appointed Itai Zak as its Executive Director of iGaming.
Zak brings over 15 years of igaming experience to Digicode, having previously worked as the CEO of SBTech, GoWild Gaming, and Spiral Solutions.
As an Executive Director, Zak will be responsible for Digicode’s igaming strategy and will work closely with its product development and sales teams to deliver solutions for igaming operators.
Zak commented: “I am excited to join Digicode and lead their igaming division. Digicode has a proven track record of delivering innovative software solutions, and I am eager to contribute to their continued success in the igaming market.”
Max Maslii, President and global CEO at Digicode, added: “We are thrilled to have Itai Zak join our team. His deep understanding of the igaming landscape and leadership skills will be invaluable as we continue to innovate and expand our foothold in this dynamic industry.
“Also, Itai’s proven track record in navigating complex regulatory environments, coupled with his forward-thinking approach to product and market strategy, positions Digicode for exciting advancements in its igaming offerings.”
Mohegan
Mohegan has added Kurt Shotzberger as Vice President of Financial Planning & Analysis.
In this role, Shotzberger will lead Mohegan’s budgeting, financial modelling, forecasting and financial and operational analysis as well as strategic planning.
“Kurt’s extensive background in finance and gaming brings a unique perspective and invaluable expertise to our team,” said Ray Pineault, President and CEO of Mohegan.
“His skills will be crucial as we navigate the ever-evolving landscape in our industry, and we’re really looking forward to seeing the innovative direction Kurt will offer as part of Mohegan.”
Shotzberger brings over two decades of finance experience to Mohegan, including 15 years in gaming, working for the likes of IGT and Wachovia Securities.
“Stepping into the role at Mohegan allows me to apply my background in a manner that aligns with my professional ethos,” added Shotzberger.
“This opportunity is both a privilege and a significant responsibility which I am eager to begin while making meaningful contributions along the way.”
GAN
GAN has named Seamus McGill as its new Chief Executive Officer.
Having previously served as interim CEO, McGill will remain on GAN’s board of directors and will be focused on guiding the company towards a timely closing of its transaction with Sega Sammy Creation.
“Seamus has the full backing of the board of directors and we are confident that his experience and leadership make him the most qualified candidate to be GAN’s next CEO,” said David Goldberg, the Company’s Chairman of the Board.
“Seamus has been with the company since 2014 and has a deep understanding of GAN’s products, customers, and strategy. On behalf of the entire board of directors, I’d like to congratulate Seamus on his appointment and we look forward to his success.”
McGill added: “It’s an honour to be named GAN’s CEO and I’d like to thank David and the board for their vote of confidence. Going forward, our focus remains unchanged. We remain committed to a timely closing of our transaction with Sega Sammy to maximise value for all of our stakeholders.”
Sportradar
Sportradar has appointed Felippe Marchetti as its Integrity Partnerships Manager in Brazil.
In this role, Marchetti will be in charge of the strategic development of Sportradar’s Integrity Services in Brazil, in addition to overseeing the company’s integrity relationships with the Brazilian Football Confederation, the South American Football Confederation and other clients in the region.
Before joining Sportradar, Marchetti served as a researcher for the Brazilian Ministry of Sport and as an independent sports integrity consultant.
Andreas Krannich, EVP of Integrity, Rights Protection and Regulatory Services at Sportradar, said: “As the sports betting market regulates in Brazil, the need for robust and resilient integrity services has never been greater.
“I’m excited to have Felippe join our team to oversee our work in Brazil and lead our efforts to safeguard the integrity of competitions in this growing market.”
Aristocrat
Aristocrat has announced that Jennifer Aument has resigned from her position as a Non-Executive Director.
Aument has stepped down from her role with Aristocrat because she has accepted a CEO role in the US transport sector.
Neil Chatfield, Chair of Aristocrat, said: “We are disappointed that Jennifer has resigned as a result of her executive appointment, however, we understand that her skills are highly valued and we thank her for the excellent contribution she has made since being nominated to our board in April 2023. We wish Jennifer all the best in her new role.”
Aristocrat added that it will begin a search for a new US-based Non-Executive Director and will provide updates when appropriate.
