People news 21 April 2016
The latest people news from the egaming industry in the last seven days (15 April to 21 April 2016)
Lottoland out of luck as COO departs
Lucky Multani leaves firm after just five months in order to “pursue new opportunities”
Lottoland chief operating officer Lucky Multani has left the firm little more than five months into the role, eGaming Review has learned.
Multani, who joined the Gibraltar-based bet-on-lotteries operator in November, told EGR he had decided to leave Lottoland in order to “pursue new opportunities”.
The former 888 staffer had been tasked with overseeing Lottoland’s fraud, payments, legal and compliance efforts, while he was also involved with the development of technology strategy.
Speaking to EGR, Lottoland chief executive Nigel Birrell confirmed Multani had left the firm and added there were no immediate plans to recruit a successor.
Norbert Teufelberger takes on special advisor role at London investment firm
Former bwin.party CEO Norbert Teufelberger has been appointed as a special advisor to AIM-listed investment firm FastForward.
The London-based company said Teufelberger had been brought on board to help identify early stage investment opportunities in the technology and gaming industry.
Teufelberger was credited with introducing FastForward to Leap Gaming, in which it invested $3.5m earlier this week.
Seven days in people news:
BoyleSports commercial director Hughes departs
BoyleSports commercial director Brendan Hughes has left the firm, his departure the latest in a line of recent high-profile exits from the Irish bookie.
Hughes, who effectively led BoyleSports’ online operations since his arrival in August 2014, has left the industry to join Irish media group Independent News & Media as chief digital officer.
Having previously held the roles of COO and managing director at former PokerStrategy owner Etruvian, Hughes played an instrumental role in BoyleSports’ move to Gibraltar, with the firm establishing an online and marketing hub on the peninsular roughly 12 months ago.
Betsson opens tech hub in London
Betsson Group has opened a software development office in central London as it seeks to “stay at the forefront” of gaming technology.
The Betsson Applied Digital Technology Centre, located in Holborn, was opened this week by the group CEO Ulrik Bengtsson.
“London has become a European leader in technology innovation and talent,” said Bengtsson. “The Betsson Applied Digital Technology Centre will ensure that Betsson has access to the brightest minds to solve complex problems and above all, innovate.
GB Gambling Commission adds five commissioners to board
The UK government’s Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport has appointed five new commissioners to the Great Britain Gambling Commission, the regulator announced today.
The new commissioners – John Baillie, Stephen Cohen, Sarika Patel, Simone Pennie and Catharine Seddon – join the board with immediate effect and are the first to be named since John Whittingdale MP became Culture Secretary last year.
The Gambling Commission board now consists of 13 members, including the regulator’s new CEO Sarah Harrison, with today’s additions bringing experience from a range of sectors including finance and the NHS.