PokerStars appoints new head of PR
Michael Josem previously served as senior security manager for the Isle of Man-based operator.
Former PokerStars senior security manager Michael Josem has been appointed as the operator’s new head of public relations.
Josem, who has been with the operator since 2008 in a variety of security-related roles, officially begins his work in the new post today. He will be based at PokerStars’ Isle of Man office.
The Australian national first joined Stars five years ago as a senior game security specialist, having earlier contributed to the player-led investigation into the UltimateBet and Absolute Poker cheating scandal which took place largely on the Two Plus Two poker forums.
He began working at Stars’ Sydney office before moving to the operator’s Isle of Man headquarters in September 2010. Josem had been senior manager of the operator’s security team – with the remit of preventing US-based players from accessing its poker client after Stars’ 2011 exit from the market in the aftermath of Black Friday – since February 2012.
Josem’s new position marks the second notable appointment for PokerStars this year, following the arrival of former Playtech COO Rafi Ashkenazi last month as chief operating officer of the operator’s parent company Rational Group.