People moves 19 January 2012
A round-up of the key industry moves from the past week (13 January - 19 January 2012)
Campos to step down as CEO of PokerStars
Official statement says former head of Dragonfish will leave Stars on 1 February after just 14 months in charge.
Gabi Campos, the first ever CEO of the world’s largest poker website, will step down from his position after just 14 months in charge, eGaming Review can confirm.
Following reports late last night that Campos’s position was in doubt, sources within PokerStars have confirmed to eGR that he will leave in two weeks time.
An official statement released to Pokernews earlier today, but not sent out on general release, said: “PokerStars announced today that Gabi Campos has decided to step down from his position as Chief Executive Officer, effective Feb. 1, 2012, to pursue other opportunities. The company thanks Gabi for his hard work and commitment and wishes him the best in all his future endeavors. A search for Gabi’s replacement is under way.”
As exclusively revealed at the time by eGR Campos joined Stars from 888’s B2B division Dragonfish on 19 July 2010 acting as a “non operational consultant” and officially began his role as PokerStars’ first ever CEO on 4 October 2010.
Noel Rowse leaves bwin.party
Noel Rowse has resigned from his position as group director of bingo at bwin.party to spend more time with his family, with former managing director of PartyGaming marketing Golan Shaked stepping in as his replacement, eGR has learned.
Rowse departure was confirmed in October last year, but only departed recently, after a handover period was completed. He was promoted to managing director of Cashcade in January after former MD Patrick Southon and co-founder Simon Collins left to form investment fund New Game Capital. Following Cashcade parent company PartyGaming’s merger with bwin, Rowse was made group director of bingo.
Michael Byrne leaves William Hill
William Hill’s head of mobile Michael Byrne has stepped down from his role after almost four years, eGaming Review has learned.
Byrne was instrumental in building mobile into a profitable channel for William Hill after joining in October 2008 from Zero36 Mobile Casino, looking after the Playtech-powered mobile offering. He then took charge of the mobile sportsbook offering and oversaw the expansion of the operator’s mobile team from one person to three development teams, launching successful products including the Racing Post and Shake-a-Bet apps.
Scicluna leaves Betclic Everest
James Scicluna has left his role as chief of regulatory and corporate affairs at Betclic Everest after almost four years in the role.
Scicluna is the second major departure from the operator following new CEO Ignacio Martos’ restructuring of the business, after Betclic Expekt CEO Thomas Winter stepped down in December last year.
New VP of sales for OpenBet retail
OpenBet’s retail arm OpenBet retail has appointed former Barcrest sales and commercial director Tim Kennedy as its new VP of sales.
His main task will be to manage the roll-out of the software-only solution OpenBetPromote and liaise with major customers on the retail side of operations.
Microgaming appoints first NMB chairman
Former Gala Coral Group CEO Dominic Harrison has been appointed chairman of the Microgaming Poker Network’s Network Management Board (NMB), the company has announced.
The NMB, made up of representatives from Microgaming, Ladbrokes, Unibet and NordicBet, is designed to allow the service provider to work alongside operators to shape the development roadmap and operational rules for its poker network. It was formed last year to help reverse the poker sector’s decline, with Microgaming’s head of network games Lydia Melton admitting “radical change“ was required.
Cozy appoints new COO
Mobile games developer Cozy Games has appointed Tim Green as its new chief operating officer with immediate effect.
Green joins from risk management specialist PIMS-SCA, where he was international business development director for more than 18 months and involved in the company’s gaming solutions arm, while he previously spent more than five years as VP international of Lottery Services Corp.
NCRG elects new chairman
Alan Feldman has been elected chairman of the National Centre for Responsible Gambling (NCRG), the US organisation has announced.
Feldman, senior vice president of public affairs for MGM Resorts International, has served on the NCRG board since 2000, and also sits on the board of the Nevada Council on Problem Gambling. He replaces previous chair Glen Christensen, managing director of investment firm Velstand Investments LLC. Feldman was presented with the lifetime achievement in gaming communications award by the American Gaming Association (AGA) in 2009.
Former Full Tilt Poker pro Melanie Weisner has joined Lock Poker‘s LockPRO ELITE stable of players. Weisner, who has won $388,002 from live tournaments, is ranked 74th on Epic Poker’s Global Poker Index.