Kindred Group founder Anders Ström steps down from board

Kindred Group founder Anders Ström has declined re-election to the firm’s board of directors next year after choosing to spend more time with his friends and family. Ström, who has served as chairman of the board ever since founding Unibet in 1997, informed the operator’s nomination committee on 3 December that he would not stand for re-election in 2021. “Some years ago I made the promise to myself that, before my 50th birthday, I would start to disengage from the forward positions in the companies that I am invested in, and spend more time managing the investments as such and with my family,” said Ström. “Moreover, there are also neglected friends and leisure pursuits that I wish to give more attention to.” The Swede also co-founded sports betting supplier Kambi in 2010 alongside Kristian Nylén. Kindred has developed into one of the sector’s leading online gambling operators in the 23 years since Ström founded Unibet. It now boasts nearly 30 million customers, more than 1,600 employees and reported a 24% increase in Q3 2020 revenue to £280.7m last month. Evert Carlsson, chairman of the Kindred nomination committee, said: “Throughout the years, Anders has been an important and inspiring asset to the board of Kindred, and he has provided it with in-depth knowledge of the industry and contributed to a stable and competent board.” Last year, Ström was named number five in the 10 most influential online gambling people this decade list by EGR contributor and Eilers & Krejcik Gaming senior consultant Alun Bowden.