With comings and goings commonplace across the industry, Entain, DraftKings and Svenska Spel are among those to have seen changes to their teams recently.
Entain
Entain has appointed Benedict McDonagh as Director of In-House Studios.
McDonagh joins Entain from Wizard Games, where he was Managing Director from April 2023. He was also the CEO of Green Jade Games from May 2018 until April 2023 and the Head of Gaming Portfolio from September 2017 to May 2018.
His gaming career spans almost 20 years, beginning in 2005 with Betfair before moving on to Rational Group.
“I’m delighted to share that tomorrow a new adventure begins for me, as I join Entain in the role of Director of In-House Studios,” said McDonagh in a LinkedIn post.
“I’ve had a wonderful time with Wizard Games over the last year but when an opportunity like this arises, I had to grab it with both hands. I leave behind a team that I am immensely proud of, who I know will go on to create massive titles as the studio continues to gain market share and the attention of players.
“Entain is a powerhouse with an incredible heritage and legacy and I cannot wait to be a small part of their bright future working with Ciara Nic Liam and the wider team I’m very much looking forward to meeting.”
Inspired Entertainment
Inspired Entertainment appointed Simona Camilleri as General Counsel, effective July 1, 2024.
Camilleri will succeed Carys Damon, who will continue her role as Corporate Secretary.
She brings nearly two decades of experience to the company, with a background in igaming, payments regulation, fintech, blockchain, negotiation, privacy law, mergers & acquisitions and licensing, as well as legal and compliance.
Camilleri has held leadership roles at the likes of Sportingtech, Casumo, Payhound, Booming Games and the Betclic Everest Group. She has also served on the Board of Gaming Malta and as Chair for the Remote Gaming Business Section at the Malta Chamber of Commerce.
Brooks Pierce, CEO of Inspired, stated: “We are thrilled to welcome Simona as Inspired’s General Counsel. I have had the pleasure of working with her at Scientific Games UK Group and know firsthand the value she will bring to our organisation. Simona’s expertise in both the commercial, legal, and regulatory side of gaming will be invaluable for Inspired as we continue to build our business globally.
“Additionally, we are grateful that Carys, after twelve years of devoted service with Inspired, will continue service as Corporate Secretary. Her guidance has been instrumental in our success, and we look forward to her continued contributions.”
DraftKings
DraftKings has made several leadership changes, naming current CFO Jason Park as Chief Transformation Officer, who will be replaced as CFO by current Senior Vice President of Finance and Analytics Alan Ellingson.
“I have asked Jason Park to take on a new role at DraftKings to address and capture large efficiency opportunities that I expect will generate significant incremental profitability over the coming years,” noted DraftKings CEO and Co-Founder Jason Robins.
“Jason’s unique skill set will allow us to further improve how we operate. In addition, I’m confident he will unlock the benefits of our proposed acquisition of Jackpocket following its closing to strengthen DraftKings’ position in US online gaming.”
As CTO, Park will be responsible for leading initiatives to “deploy cutting edge technologies” to aid operating efficiencies as well as oversee the acquisition of Jackpocket. He has been with DraftKings since 2019, overseeing the company’s move to the public market.
“I am thrilled to take on this new role which tackles several significant opportunities to improve how we operate and taps into my passion for building great and highly efficient companies,” said Park.
Ellingson has been with the company since 2020, working closely with Park on the financial and accounting side. Both Park and Ellingson will step into their new roles on May 1, 2024.
Robins added: “I am very excited to elevate Alan Ellingson to Chief Financial Officer and have him continue to lead the Company on the very clear path that we have laid out.
“Alan has been with DraftKings for more than four years, has extensive experience across our finance and analytics teams, and most importantly, deeply understands our core value drivers and focus on maximising shareholder value.”
SkyCity Entertainment
SkyCity Entertainment has named Andrew McPherson as its next Chief Information Officer.
McPherson initially joined SkyCity in November 2023, stepping into the role of interim Chief Information Officer.
Before joining the operator, he held senior leadership roles across New Zealand technology firms, including as Chief Technology Officer at Stuff Limited and as Head of National Design at Spark.
Massachusetts Gaming Commission
The Massachusetts Gaming Commission has appointed Jordan Maynard as its new interim Chair while it searches for a permanent replacement for the retiring Cathy Judd-Stein.
Maynard was appointed to the role by Governor Maura Healey and will be replacing Judd-Stein, who is retiring after occupying the role of Chair since 2019.
“I am honoured that Governor Healey and Lieutenant Governor [Kim] Driscoll have entrusted me with this responsibility and thank my fellow commissioners, who are essential to the continued success of the Massachusetts Gaming Commission, for their partnership and support,” said Maynard.
“Since beginning as a commissioner, I have been consistently impressed with the level of professionalism and expertise displayed by the Commission staff. Without this committed team, commissioners would not be able to execute our responsibilities. We will lean on their experience and judgement as we continue addressing the issues facing the Massachusetts gaming, horse racing, and sports wagering industries.
“I look forward to working with our licensees and stakeholders to continue prioritizing consumer protections and responsible gaming.”
Svenska Spel
Svenska Spel has handed new roles to current IT Director Mikael Franzén and Head of Corporate IT Lovisa Ekman, who will become Head of Responsible Gaming & Data-Driven Transformation and Head of IT respectively from April 1.
Franzén has been with Svenska Spel since 2019, while Ekman has been with the Swedish operator since 2018.
“I am very pleased to welcome Mikael Franzén and Lovisa Ekman in their new roles,” commented Erik Strand, President and CEO of Svenska Spel.
“They are responsible for key areas in our work to ensure that Svenska Spel enters the future as a continued strong and competitive group. Mikael and Lovisa are also experienced leaders who are appreciated by both employees and group management.”
Spelinspektionen
The Swedish Government has appointed Claes Norgren and Therese Mattsson as members of the Spelinspektionen board.
Norgren, who previously served as Auditor General, Head of the Swedish Financial Supervisory Authority and Deputy Governor of the Riksbank, has been named as the new Chair of the Swedish gambling authority.
Meanwhile, Mattsson, former Director-General of the Swedish Coast Guard, has joined as a Spelinspektionen board member. Both Norgren and Mattsson’s terms will last from April 1, 2024, until March 31, 2026.
