People news 3 April 2014
The latest people news from the egaming industry in the last seven days (28 March to 3 April 2014)
Mansour appointed as Full Tilt MD
Ex-Health Lottery chief exec takes over from interim boss Rafi Ashkenazi as head of Full Tilt Poker
Former Health Lottery CEO Dominic Mansour has been named as the new managing director of Full Tilt Poker.
Mansour will take over from Rational Group COO Rafi Ashkenazi, who has been serving as acting managing director on an interim basis, on April 22. He will be responsible for the day-to-day operations of the Full Tilt brand and business.
“Dominic’s experience aligns very well with our plans for Full Tilt,” Ashkenazi said.
“He has strong commercial experience, a great marketing background, and first-class product knowledge across poker, casino and sportsbook. We’re very happy to have him on-board,” Ashkenazi added.
Henry Birch named as new Rank CEO
Grosvenor Casino and Mecca Bingo owner The Rank Group has appointed Henry Birch, the former William Hill Online (WHO) chief executive, as successor to outgoing CEO Ian Burke.
Burke will stand down after eight years at the helm on 6 May and will assume the role of non-executive chairman, with the Rank board considering it “appropriate to ensure that [Rank] benefits from some continuity”.
Birch joins Rank approximately 17 months after leaving WHO having managed the online subsidiary, a joint venture between William Hill and software supplier Playtech, since its inception in 2008.
Bwin.party promotes Maynard to head of legal (UK)
Bwin.party’s former legal affairs manager James Maynard has been promoted to the role of head of legal (UK) at the operator.
Maynard has been with bwin.party since August 2011 having previously served as legal counsel at both Sky Bet at Sportingbet.
Seven days in people news:
Health Lottery COO David Wall departs
The Health Lottery has seen its COO leave the company less than two months after chief exec Dominic Mansour headed for the exit, eGaming Review has learned.
David Wall joined the lottery operator as IT and operations director in April 2011 before it was launched in September that year. He was later promoted to chief operations officer when CEO Martin Hall stepped aside just six months later.
Prior to joining The Health Lottery Wall served as technical services manager at Zurich Insurance, and earlier spent four years as GTECH’s European communications manager.
Betfair head of public affairs departs
Betfair’s head of public affairs Susannah Gill has left the operator after more than five years to join racecourse owners Arena Racing.
She has been replaced at Betfair by Tom Tuxworth who will step into role of head of public affairs for the UK, Ireland and the Netherlands from his previous role of public affairs manager, which he began in June 2010.
Gill has left to join Arena Racing, owners and operators of 15 racecourses in Great Britain, as its new director of external affairs.
IGT cuts global workforce by 7%
IGT has enacted cost-cutting measures including reducing its global workforce by 7% following a sharp decline in gross gaming revenues from its North America business.
IGT started notifying employees yesterday and expects the workforce reduction to be completed by the end of the second fiscal quarter.
The reduction in staff is expected to realise cost savings of US$30m in the current fiscal year and an estimated $50m on an annual run-rate basis.