Hernandez Rivera confirmed as Spanish regulator
Deputy director general Carlos Hernandez Rivera promoted to top job
The Spanish gambling regulator has promoted its deputy director general Carlos Hernandez Rivera to lead the organisation more than a month after Enrique Alejo left the role.
Alejo exited the General Directorate for the Regulation of Gambling (DGOJ) to join the country’s largest TV group as its corporate CEO after just 16 months. Announcing his replacement has taken far longer than many expected, however Hernandez Rivera’s appointment ensures a certain amount of continuity within the regulatory body.
Hernandez Riverawas appointed deputy general director of the regulator back in May 2012 to replace Juan Carlos Alfonso Rubio. He has since been heavily involved in the opening of Spain’s online gambling market, with the DGOJ finally awarding the first wave of licences last June after numerous delays.
The organisation had undergone a host of personnel changes during the regulation process, with the resignation of former deputy general director Juan Carlos Alfonso Rubio in March 2012 delaying the opening of the market. Meanwhile 2012 also saw Jaime Lorenzo announced as deputy general director of gaming management responsible for technical compliance, replacing Miguel Ordozgoiti who left alongside Rubio.
With no director general in place at the time, the regulator published its delayed first quarter results earlier this month. It revealed that gross gaming revenue (GGR) and turnover had declined in the quarter, with the former dropping across all products fell to 60.84m.