People news 02/05/2013
The latest people moves from the egaming industry in the last seven days (26 April to 02 May 2013)
Labrokes poaches Hills online COO as Israel division opens
New digital marketing subsidiary Ladbrokes Israel opens as part of long-term licensing deal with Playtech “ Mullen joins after more than two years at operator’s biggest rivals
Ladbrokes has announced the hiring of Jim Mullen from William Hill to head up its online operations, on the same day that its Israeli marketing subsidiary officially opened.
Mullen, who joined Hills as COO of its online division from News International in 2010, will take the title of director, digital when he joins the company in November this year. He will report directly to CEO Richard Glynn, with his duties being handled by director of channels Nick Rust in the interim.
Glynn described Mullen’s appointment as “a significant step” in establishing the operator as “a major player” in the online gambling industry.
“The appointment of Jim Mullen allied to the start of Ladbrokes Israel means we have strong foundations in place to accelerate our growth in this important area,” he added. “He will join at an exciting time and we look forward to him helping us make the Ladbrokes brand as strong in the digital arena as we are on the High Street.”
Exclusive: Full Tilt hunting for new CEO
Full Tilt Poker is hunting for a new CEO, eGaming Review has learned, with its Dublin-based owners appointing a leading executive recruitment firm to head up the search.
Rational FT Services, the division which operates the Full Tilt brand, has enlisted the services of executive search firm Odgers Berndtson with regards to the role, according to eGR sources. eGR understands that the new CEO will be based in Dublin, while the search process is believed to still be ongoing.
Rational Group chief operating officer Rafi Ashkenazi has been involved in the day-to-day operations of the Full Tilt and PokerStars brands since joining the Isle of Man licensee earlier this year, however the group opted not to appoint a CEO ahead of relaunching the FTP brand in November and has yet to name a permanent incumbent for the role.
Spanish regulator Alejo steps down
The general director of Spain’s gambling regulator Enrique Alejo has left the organisation after 16 months to join the country’s largest TV group as its corporate CEO.
Alejo joined the General Directorate for the Regulation of Gambling (DGOJ) in January 2012 and oversaw the opening of the Spanish online gaming market last June. Most recently he was responsible for the commitment to regulate exchange betting and online slot games.
Mobile payments and ID verification firm Jumio has announced the appointment of David Pope as the company’s European marketing director. Pope joins from Experian, where he served as UK marketing director, having joined the company when his former employer 192business was acquired by the information services firm in 2011.
Jumio’s chief marketing and strategy officer Marc Barach commented that Pope’s strong grounding in KYC procedures and customer verification would allow the business to “help spread the word” about [its] products.
Marketing, PR and hospitality company GameOn Marketing has hired former CBS Outdoor International events manager Kiera Goymour as marketing communications manager. GameOn director Sarah Jones said she was “thrilled” to have to have someone with such “passion for the gaming industry and tenacity when working with clients” joining her team.