People news 22/11/12
A round-up of industry moves from the last week (16 November to 22 November 2012).
Playtech COO resigns
Rafi Ashkenazi becomes second high-profile executive to leave business in less than two months following Aaron Johnson, CEO Virtue Fusion in September.
Rafi Ashkenazi has stepped down as COO of Playtech, with “more changes to come”, according to a source close to the business.
Ashkenazi is the second high-profile executive to leave the business in less than two months following eGaming Review’s exclusive story that Aaron Johnson, former CEO of the company’s B2B bingo arm Virtue Fusion, had left the company in September.
Ashkenazi, who is based on the Isle of Man where the company is incorporated for tax reasons, headed the company’s operations and, with seven years’ service, is one of the company’s longest serving employees, resigned three weeks ago, eGR has learned.
The reasons for his departure are as yet unclear.
“The company is managed from the very top and one day people are there and the next they’re not,” a source close to the company revealed. “More changes are afoot but we don’t know what they might be,” the source added.
Lederer files motion to dismiss second amended complaint
Former Tiltware board member Howard Lederer has filed a motion to dismiss the Second Amended Complaint, in which he was accused of using fraudulently obtained Full Tilt Poker (FTP) player funds to finance his properties and personal bank accounts.
Describing the complaint as “sprawling”, Lederer’s lawyer Elliot R Peters alleges in a 26-page accompanying memorandum that it is “so structurally complex that it takes a cartographer to understand what is being alleged and against whom.”
Repeating arguments made in August’s call for a status conference with regard to the allegations levelled against Lederer, Peters cites the United States v DiCristina ruling in arguing that Full Tilt Poker did not constitute an illegal gambling business under the Illegal Gambling Business Act (IGBA).
Calling for the dismissal of both in rem and in personam claims relating to Lederer, the lawyer cites the case Morrison v. National Australia Bank Ltd [a non-gambling case] and argues: “IGBA does not apply extraterritorially to a business operated abroad whose only contact with the United States is that some of its poker players are based here.”
Seven days in people moves:
SHFL appoints new online chief
SHFL Entertainment has appointed former Mansion head of product development Nick Gabriel as the new head of its online gaming division.
Based out of the gaming supplier’s new Gibraltar office, Gabriel will oversee the online B2B operations throughout Europe. SHFL has also announced it has received a remote gambling license from the Government of Gibraltar Licensing Authority.
A qualified accountant, Gabriel previously served as president of online social gaming platform Duelring, for almost three year and spent five years at internet gaming operator Mansion as head of product strategy and development.
New CFO for Caesars Entertainment
Caesars Entertainment has appointed Donald Colvin as CFO to replace Jonathan Halkyard who left the company in May.
Colvin joins the casino giant as executive vice-president as well as CFO, responsible for Caesars’ finance functions and reporting to CEO Gary Loveman.
Prior to joining Caesars, Colvin served as executive vice-president and CFO of technology firm ON Semiconductor from April 2003 to October 2012. He has also held a number of senior financial positions including at Atmel Corporation, European Silicon Structures and Motorola
Income Access management changes
Affiliate network and egaming marketing business Income Access has announced the appointment of its new senior management team.
The five-strong team will take charge with immediate effect, and has been tasked with “Creating new initiatives and promoting growth within the company, as it expands its position in the industry.”
It comprises head of operations Edward Tkalec, chief marketing officer Sarafina Wolde Gabriel, head of corporate communications and marketing Anna Sell, manager of the software development department Francisco Correa, and Vanesa Cantt, manager of the technical services department.
Media Corp interim CEO quits
Media Corporation has announced that its interim CEO, Adam Fraser-Harris, has stepped down with immediate effect, making him the third boss of the company to leave this year.
The AIM-listed online gaming group and digital advertising network confirmed in a statement that Fraser-Harris is to “pursue other interests”.
In February chief executive Justin Drummond (pictured) stepped down fromhis role while his interim replacement Sara Vincent left the company just three months later.
Twitter hires Zynga treasurer Gupta
Mike Gupta has left his position as Zynga treasurer to take up the role of vice president of corporate finance and treasurer at Twitter just over a year after joining the operator.
The appointment has been confirmed by Twitter in a statement, Bloomberg reports, as the company looks to bring in management staff with experience of working in public companies in preparation for an initial public offering. Gupta will report to the microblogging site’s CFO Ali Rowghani, who previously served as the finance chief for the Disney-owned animation studio Pixar.
Gupta’s departure came just days after it was announced that Zynga CFO David Wehner had left the company for a finance position at Facebook, initiating an executive reshuffle at the company.
Malta-licensed egaming operator Betway has appointed Bob Dutnall as executive director of its Guernsey branch, after leaving his role as managing director of Sportingbet‘s European operations.
Former ESPN columnist Gary Wise has joined Pinnacle Sports as its manager of social media. Wise, who has been a regular contributor to ESPN.com since 2007, has also previously contributed to eGaming Review and worked as the official blogger of the World Poker Tour.