People news 3 September 2015
The latest people news from the egaming industry in the last seven days (28 August to 3 September 2015)
Yggdrasil plans to double headcount after revenues soar
Gaming provider plans rapid expansion over coming months following 119% growth during H1
Cherry-backed games developer Yggdrasil Gaming could potentially double its headcount in the coming months as the firm plots significant investment following a six-month period of revenue growth.
Although a 119% year-on-year increase in revenues to SEK4.5m (£342,000) for the first six months of the year was not matched on the bottom line, with EBITDA remaining almost static at negative SEK1.6m (-£122,000), CEO Fredrik Elmqvist told eGaming Review the firm was not afraid to make “an investment for the future”.
Elmqvist said the firm is currently weighing up options for the next two years, which could see a doubling of staff across the firm’s Malta and Krakow offices.
“The next couple of months will decide the longer term plan,” Elmqvist said. “First we’re going to close the third quarter. We are now shaping plans for the next two years. If we go with an aggressive plan, it could be anything from double the number of heads to maybe more,” he added.
California regulator Schuetz departs for Bermuda
Richard Schuetz has left the California gaming regulator to take up the role of executive director at the Bermuda Gaming Commission.
Schuetz joined the California Gaming Control Commission (CGCC) back in September 2011 and has played a central role in the state’s attempts to pass online poker legislation.
Prior to joining the CGCC, Schuetz was president and CEO of the Stratosphere Casino and Hotel in Las Vegas, and also held senior roles at the Sands Casino and Stardust Casino.
Seven days in people news:
Australia-based social sports betting business Favourit has announced the appointment of Gary Harris as chief executive officer.
Harris previously served as the IT director and a Board member of the Sportingbet Australia Group between 2004 and 2013, when it was acquired by the William Hill Group.
Prior to this role, Gary was IT director and a board member of IASBet Limited, which was subsequently sold to Sportsbet, now a subsidiary of Paddy Power Group.
Toby Simmons, coâfounder and current chief executive officer will become the commercial director leading the development of Favourit’s International market strategy and business development opportunities.
Online poker operator PKR.com has made two new senior hires to its management team with a new CTO and CFO joining the recently appointed CEO Chris Welch at the firm.
Mike Ellis, formerly of William Hill and youwin, will lead its technology team and replaces PKR’s long-serving CTO Jeremy Longley who will now take up a consulting role within the company.
PKR.com also appointed Tony Browne as its new CFO who joins following stints at Ernst & Young, Lumata and Harris Interactive.
“PKR has long been an innovator in the market and at a time when every poker operator is seeking ways to attract and retain the recreational poker player, PKR’s innovative and unique poker software puts the business ahead of the curve,” Welch said.
“Our aim is clearly to develop our product offering further to become a true multi-product offering and strengthen our mobile proposition,” he added.
The Sweden Gaming Authority (Lotteriinspektionen) has announced the appointment of Camilla Rosenberg as the regulator’s new chief operating officer (COO).
Rosenborg joins the regulator from the Swedish Energy Agency and in her new role will be in charge of the Authority’s licensing and supervisory activities.
“We are confident that Camilla, with his experience and expertise, will operate and develop the operational activities in a positive way,” the regulator’s director general, Håkan Hall Ballenstedt, said.