People news 24 July 2014
The latest people news from the egaming industry in the last seven days (18 July to 24 July 2014)
Isaac Ward named William Hill Australia COO
Ex-Paddy Power egaming boss promoted from commercial director of Tom Waterhouse brand
Paddy Power’s former head of egaming Isaac Ward has been named as the new chief operating officer (COO) of William Hill Australia.
Ward, who was appointed as commercial director at the William Hill-owned tomwaterhouse.com business in November, will work alongside newly appointed CEO Tom Waterhouse as part of a new-look management team responsible for Hill’s Australia-facing brands which also include Sportingbet and Centrebet.
Prior to moving to Sydney to join tomwaterhouse.com, Ward was games P&L manager at Paddy Power from 2010 before becoming head of egaming at the Irish operator two years later.
He also previously worked at Sportingbet where he held the roles of head of acquisition and head of casino and games.
Betfred names Haddock as new group CEO
Betfred has promoted its retail managing director John Haddock to the position of group CEO.
Haddock, who has been with the Warrington-headquartered firm for 30 years, has assumed responsibility for both its retail and online businesses “ a role which had been vacant since Trevor Beaumont stepped down two years ago.
Betfred’s retail and online managing directors will now report into Haddock, the latter of which has yet to be named following the news that Chris Sheffield will leave next month.
Seven days in people news:
Dutch regulator strengthens board ahead of new bill
The Dutch Gambling Authority (Kansspelautoriteit) has appointed economist Joop Pot to its board of directors as it prepares for 1 January deadline.
Pot, who is currently a member of the Council for the Judiciary, replaces Paul Tang, who announced he was leaving the regulator earlier this year.
He will join chairman Jan Suyver and director Marja Appelman to make up a three-person board at the organisation from 1 November.
Former Gala Coral product boss launches B2B platform
The former head of product at Gala Coral and Evolution Gaming has co-founded a casino content and marketing platform supplier to take on the likes of OpenBet and Playtech.
Joe Coughlin, who spent three years at Amaya Gaming in his most recent role, told eGaming Review his new venture, the London Gaming Company, already has two unnamed clients on board and has more in the pipeline.
“Operators in emerging markets will be a natural audience for us at first but eventually we’ll be pitching for big operators against the big guys,” Coughlin, firm’s managing director, said.
Online casino group Mr Green & Co has announced that Hans Fajerson is to step down from his role on the board of directors with immediate effect.
The company said the reason for his departure was because of time constraints but that Fajerson will continue as the firm’s largest shareholder with 20% of the votes and capital.
Perform Group has announced that Ashley Milton will join the company’s board as chief financial officer (CFO) next month.
Milton replaces former CFO David Surtees who left the firm in January after more than five years since joining the sports data firm from independent TV producer Shine in 2008.