People news 11 December 2014
The latest people news from the egaming industry in the last seven days (5 December to 11 December 2014)
Paddy Power promotes Johnny Hartnett to online MD in management shake-up
Current head of online Peter O’Donovan to take up new chief product role as CEO designate Andy McCue reassembles management team
Paddy Power is overhauling its digital management team after announcing the promotion of director of operations Johnny Hartnett to managing director of online with incumbent Peter O’Donovan moving to the newly created role of chief product officer.
Hartnett, who joined the operator in 1999 and was formerly COO at Paddy Power’s Australia-facing brand Sportsbet, will assume responsibility for paddypower.com and paddypower.it, as well as Dial-a-Bet and customer operations.
Current online head O’Donovan will become the operator’s chief product officer and will be charged with leading Paddy Power’s technology and product development teams as well as its Cayetano game development studio in Bulgaria.
In addition to coordinating global product innovation, the technology department at Paddy’s Australian subsidiary Sportsbet will also have a “dotted reporting line” back to O’Donovan.
Richard Glynn’s five years at Ladbrokes
Ladbrokes’ announcement that chief executive Richard Glynn is to stand down from his role next year brings the curtain down on a five-year tenure that has seen a number of highs and lows.
Having joined the company to succeed Chris Bell in 2010, Glynn has overseen the transformation of Ladbrokes to a far more digital-savvy business than it once was, but it has not been a steady transformation.
Ladbrokes’ lacklustre performance in recent quarters had seen Glynn’s position come under increasing speculation and despite signs of a turnaround in fortunes, Glynn’s departure is not altogether unexpected.
Seven days in people news:
GoldBet Entertainment appoints new CEO
GoldBet Entertainment has named Michele Sprovieri as its new CEO to replace outgoing chief executive Tim Parker.
Sprovieri began his new role on 20 November having previously served as group CTO for more than two years, as well as sportbook product manager and live betting director.
He told eGaming Review his main objectives would be expanding Goldbet’s sportsbook and gaming operations in Malta.
Cherry CEO departs in management shakeup
Scandinavia-facing casino operator Cherry has announced a shakeup of its senior leadership team with its current CEO stepping down to be replaced by CFO Fredrik Burvall as the firm looks to increase its focus on online gaming.
Emil Sunvisson will step down from the CEO role and replaced by current CFO Fredrik Burvall on an interim basis, although Sunvisson will stay on as a company advisor for a limited period of time.
The shakeup will also see Cherry’s largest investor Morten Klein take up the new role of business development and partnerships, working closely with the operator’s online gaming team in Malta.
Svenska Spel appoints new comms director
Swedish monopoly Svenska Spel has hired Martin Hedensiö as its new director of communications.
Hedensiö will step down from his current role as vice president of communications for the NASDAQ OMX Group in Europe, the Middle East and Africa, to join Svenska Spel in May next year.
He is expected to join up with the operator in May and will form part of the company’s management team, reporting directly to chief executive Lennart Käll.