People news 1 September 2016
The latest people news from the egaming industry in the last seven days (26 August to 1 September 2016)
Mecca’s digital chief Claire Osborne departs
EGR understands there will be no like-for-like replacement for the bingo brand’s digital operations director
Mecca Bingo’s digital operations director Claire Osborne has left after more than 11 years at The Rank Group following a restructuring of the bingo brand’s online team, eGaming Review can reveal.
Osborne officially vacated her role on 19 August, according to an email sent to staff on Friday, and EGR understands her responsibilities have been distributed among other staffers as part of an ongoing reorganisation.
During her 11-year tenure at Rank, Osborne led Mecca Bingo’s digital arm for approximately four years after she originally joined the business as a product manager in 2005.
In 2010 she was named head of bingo and games and later promoted to head up Mecca’s digital operations, during which time she helped found the firm’s Gibraltar-based team.
Former Kambi duo launch horseracing-focused betting site
Former Kambi employees Dave Gowers and Craig Nicholson have launched a new horseracing-focused betting site in partnership with sportsbook supplier FSB Technology.
BlackType.bet was officially launched last week and is the brainchild of the former Kambi duo along with Mylo Sangster, the grandson of racehorse owner and breeder Robert Sangster.
The website, which is already featured on the Oddschecker grid, is backed by a social media presence across Facebook and Twitter, and in addition to racing, offers markets on football and tennis.
Powered by FSB, Black Type allows certain sports markets to be controlled by its own in-house trading team while others are managed by FSB’s London-based traders.
Seven days in people news:
GSN hires Dan Wiegenfeld to head up social casino operations
GSN Games has appointed Playtech’s former head of social gaming, Dan Wiegenfeld, to head up its social casino operations, eGaming Review has learned.
Wiegenfeld was recently named vice-president and general manager of GSN’s Casino studio and will lead teams across San Francisco, Boston, London and Bangalore.
He previously spent three years as Playtech’s head of social gaming between 2013 and 2015, and prior to that was CEO of Israeli social games start-up diwip.
“I am pleased to welcome Dan Wiegenfeld as general manager of the Casino studio at GSN Games,” Steve Brunell, COO of GSN, told EGR NA.
BHA’s integrity director departs
The British Horseracing Authority (BHA) has announced the departure of Adam Brickwell who has left the group after more than seven years working in legal and integrity roles.
Brickwell joined the BHA from law firm DLA Piper and during his tenure has held the roles of legal affairs manager, head of legal & compliance and director of integrity, legal and risk.
Nick Rust, chief executive at the BHA, said: “Adam has played a key role in ensuring British racing has modern and effective governance structures in place, and the necessary policies to help keep our sport fair and clean.
“I am sorry he is leaving, but I fully understand and respect his decision,” Rust added.