Dan Phillips to take over at Virtue Fusion

Former Cyberarts and Fertitta Interactive European managing director Dan Phillips will take over the operation of Virtue Fusion in the wake of Aaron Johnson’s resignation, eGR understands, with only two members of the original team remaining following Playtech’s takeover in February 2010.

Phillips, who is currently on leave following his departure from Fertitta ““ that acquired the Cyberarts poker platform in October last year ““ will join the business in the next 10 days taking over from Johnson who had been with Playtech and its major shareholder Teddy Sagi for nine years.

eGR learned earlier this week that Johnson is understood to have recently “fallen out” with Sagi, however the supplier is thought to be preparing to offer the highly regarded executive a more lucrative position in order to retain his services.

The incoming COO of Virtue Fusion has both operational and bingo experience under his belt at both Gala Coral and Chartwell Games, now owned by Canadian provider Amaya. Phillips was CEO of Chartwell Games International for almost two years and oversaw the supplier’s international operations including business development, marketing, sales and client services. Prior to that he was gaming director at Gala Coral for more than seven years and was responsible for overall P&L management, product development and operations of bingo, casino, poker, games and Gala TV.

Only a fraction of the original employees prior to Playtech’s acquisition of the bingo software business now remain; chief technology officer Chris Burt and Playtech’s head of bingo Rhys Owen. Jenna Krog, former senior account manager, is among the most recent employees to leave Virtue Fusion and has just joined Unibet as its new head of bingo.

Krog was responsible for the Paddy Power bingo account among others. Her departure means that none of the original Virtue Fusion account managers remain at the business.