ZEAL Network CEO to stand down

Online lottery operator ZEAL Network chief executive Dr Hans Cornehl will leave the company at the end of the year to be replaced by CMO Dr Helmut Becker, the firm formerly known as Tipp24 announced this morning.

Cornehl has served as CEO of the London-headquartered firm for four years after first joining the company’s executive board in 2002 and led the operator’s listing on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange as well as a revamp of the business following the implementation of the Interstate Treaty on Gambling in 2009.

Chairman of ZEAL Network’s supervisory board Andreas de Maizière praised Cornehl’s leadership during his four-year tenure and his role in driving ZEAL Network’s current financial position.

“When growth started to take off, he was the key player in establishing the platform and ultimately drove forward the expansion in subsequent years,” de Maizière said.

“Dr Cornehl has made a significant contribution to forging the long-term business success and creating the special culture prevailing at ZEAL,” he added.

CEO in waiting Becker has served as ZEAL Network’s chief marketing officer since June 2013 following previous roles at social platform provider XING AG and eBay Deutschland.

“We will continue accelerating the expansion of the three strategic divisions of ZEAL, in order to take advantage of the increasing digitisation and changes to the regulatory framework,” Becker said.

News of Becker’s appointment follows last week’s announcement of ex-Disney exec Susan Standiford to the company’s newly created chief technology officer (CTO) role and a member of the ZEAL Network’s executive board.