People news 12 December 2013
The latest people moves from the egaming industry in the last seven days (6 December to12 December 2013)
Digital director one of two senior departures at Betfair
Digital director Ben Carter leaves operator to become head of marketing at online marketplace Notonthehighstreet.com
Betfair digital director Ben Carter has resigned after more than four years at the exchange and sportsbook operator.
Carter left Betfair last Friday to become head of marketing at online marketplace Notonthehighstreet.com, however no replacement has been lined up as of yet.
He joined Betfair as head of central online marketing services, later becoming head of digital marketing before being appointed as a digital director at the start of 2013.
“He has had four successful years at Betfair and we wish him all the best in his future career,” James Midmer, corporate communications manager at Betfair, said.
Bet365 plans multi-million pound HQ expansion
Bet365 is set to invest millions of pounds into the development of an expansive new headquarters as the online operator looks to move its entire Stoke-based operation under one roof.
The operator currently operates out of five separate offices at Festival Park on the outskirts of Stoke-on-Trent and the move will see its 2,200 employees relocated to a new three-storey building located close to the Etruria area of the city.
Bet365 will submit plans to build a 13,000 sq ft building capable of housing up to 2,800 staff. It is hoped that work could start as early as next summer, with the company taking up residence by early 2016.
Seven days in people news:
Betfred names ex-Playtech director as online marketing chief
Betfred has appointed former Playtech commercial director Adele Lawton as its new head of online marketing.
Lawton began her role on 18 November and is responsible for customer acquisition, retention and product management for Betfred’s online and mobile business across all products.
She joins from Israeli supplier Playtech where she served as commercial director for 10 months. Prior to that she spent three years as head of the Jackpotjoy brand at Gamesys, and has also held senior product roles at bet365 and Gala Coral.
SHFL chief exec Isaacs leaves following Bally takeover
SHFL Entertainment chief executive Gavin Isaacs has left the business along with its strategy and finance chiefs following the $1.3bn takeover by Bally Technologies.
Isaacs, who has led the US-based gaming supplier for more than two and half years, left last month and is now under a non-compete clause for the next 12 months.
He is followed out of the door by Linster Fox, the company’s executive vice-president and CFO since 2009, and chief strategy officer Louis Castle.
Senior Holland Casino exec leaves as restructuring begins
Holland Casino has announced the departure of one of its longest-serving senior executives as part of a head office restructure.
Ron Goudsmit joined the operator back in 1976 as a dealer and moved up to the position of vice-president of international development, responsible for all international business of Holland Casino, setting up casino projects across Europe and in Canada.
He has also served as the chairman of the European Casino Association since 2006 and will continue in this position till the end of his term in January 2015.
Peer-to-peer sports betting network Tailorbet has hired Dominic Atkinson as its new commercial director as the company looks to build on its current expansion strategy. “Dominic’s appointment underscores our commitment to a strategy of building strong partnerships within the betting and gaming industry, and his experience and expertise in this respect will be invaluable,” Tailorbet COO Rachel Epps said. Atkinson joins Tailorbet from sports betting supplier Satellite Information Services (SIS) where he held role of head of business.
Global law firm Pinsent Masons has announced the appointment of six new people to help bolster its international gaming practice which includes clients such as William Hill and IGT. Among the new hires are Diane Mullenex and Frédéric Ichay who join from Ichay & Mullenex Avocates (IMA), a boutique technology firm with six years’ experience in the gaming industry.
“Diane is a prominent name in the international market, while Frédéric and Annabelle also come with stand-out reputations,” Clive Seddon, head of TMT and sourcing at Pinsent Masons, said. “They enhance our cross-border capabilities in Europe, Asia Pacific, the Gulf and Africa, and complement the existing IP-focused practice led by Emmanuel Gougé.”