People news 11 May 2017
The latest people news from the egaming industry in the last seven days (5 May to 11 May 2017)
Ladbrokes Coral in management rejig as MD of sports brands departs
Phil Walker resigns from firm with Mark Kemp promoted to fill boots and take on wider brief
Ladbrokes Coral has been forced to shuffle its management pack after MD of sports brands Phil Walker resigned from the firm, EGR Intel has learned.
Gibraltar-based Walker, who joined legacy Gala Coral in 2010, will leave Ladbrokes Coral in the coming weeks during which time he will handover to Mark Kemp, who has been promoted from his product director role.
In addition to Walker’s current team, director of gaming operations Nir Hakarmeli, and director of sportsbook ops Matt Warner will report into Kemp – a switch from their current line manager, digital COO Ian Chuter.
Director of gaming content Richard Barr will also report into Kemp.
888 names two new SVPs in organisational reshuffle
888 Holdings has announced two senior executive appointments following an examination of the Group’s organisational and senior management structure.
Under the reshuffle, Yaniv Schwartz – who has been head of 888’s B2B business Dragonfish for the past six years – is taking up a newly created role as senior vice president, head of customer risk management.
Schwartz will be in charge of 888’s fraud and risk teams as well as supporting 888’s operations across existing and new regulated markets.
He will report directly into 888 CEO Itai Frieberger.
Seven days in people news:
Plumbee co-founder Raf Keustermans departs
Plumbee co-founder Raf Keustermans has left the social casino company after nearly six years of service.
Keustermans, who is currently GSN Games’ VP of London Studios following the firm’s acquisition of Plumbee in 2016, served his final day last week (5 May).
“It was a tough decision, but it felt like the time was right to hand over the reins,” Keustermans told EGR North America.
“The last six years have been amazing, I’m truly grateful to everyone who was part of the journey.
Coates family added £1bn to their fortune last year
The Coates family added £1bn to its net worth last year according to the latest Sunday Times Rich List, taking their fortune to an estimated £5bn.
The family, who own 93.3% of bet365, came in 22nd on the Times Rich List, up one spot from last year.
Denise Coates, the operator’s CEO, is also ranked as Britain’s fifth richest woman – and the richest self-made woman, with a take-home package of £117.5m last year.