Paf raids Swedish operator for new marketing chief
Firm hires former ahaWorld CEO Goran Ristic as it looks to improve its acquisition strategy
Paf has named Goran Ristic as its new marketing director as part of the operator’s plans to boost its acquisition strategy, EGR has learned.
Ristic joins the operator from Sweden-based gambling group ahaWorld AB ÛÒ which runs sites including ahaCasino.com and Mobocasino.com – where he was CEO since its inception in 2007.
The new marketing director will be based at Paf’s head office in ÌÉland’s capital, Mariehamn.
The appointment is CEO Christer Fahlstedt’s latest addition to his senior management team since taking the reins back in June this year, with Per Sahlberg joining the firm as CFO in October.
Speaking to EGR, Fahlstedt said the duo’s combined experience of over 25 years in the online gaming industry will help the firm’s development plans, particularly with its acquisition strategy.
“We do some things amazingly well, especially on the responsible gaming side, as I think we are the world leaders in that,”said Fahlstedt.
“In other aspects we are lagging behind the rest of the industry, especially in acquisition. These two individuals will work well in the culture here.”
Fahlstedt described Ristic as a “natural leader with extensive knowledge of online gaming”who will contribute a “great deal”to Paf’s future development.
Commenting on his new role, Ristic said: “I see many possibilities for the brand, which I feel can take a unique position in the market.”
In other news, the ÌÉland government had made changes to the Paf board with ÌÉsa Ceder becoming the new chairman.
Ceder is the CEO of ÌÉland-based insurance company Pension Alandia Ab and replaces Jarl Danielsson who has left the board.
Deputy chairman Torbj̦rn Eliasson and Cia Jansson have also departed.
Anna Dahlsten of Swedish government-owned liquor stores and CEO of Finnish energy company Kaidi Finland, Carl Haglund, have been added to the board as their replacements.