Kindred Group promotes from within for new CTO

Kindred Group has promoted its director of engineering, Sören Thörnlund, to become the operator’s new chief technology officer (CTO).

A 10-year veteran at the Stockholm-listed firm, Thörnlund will now step up to oversee the entirety of the group’s technology strategy and output.

Having served as a consultant to Unibet in 2010, Thörnlund joined Kindred in January 2013 as a team lead in the tech development division.

He was then named head of development in January 2015, responsible for managing the global IT development at the operator.

In February 2022, alongside being named director of engineering, Thörnlund was also named as deputy CTO.

Thörnlund will continue to be based out of Kindred’s Stockholm headquarters and will join the C-suite alongside CEO Henrik Tjärnström and chief product officer Erik Backlund.

Thörnlund replaces former CTO Marcus Smedman who has stepped down after eight years in the role.

Smedman will remain with the company to support Thörnlund as an advisor during the handover process.

Smedman spent 12 years with Kindred, including spells as head of IT Australia and head of development before becoming CTO in January 2015.

Speaking on his appointment, Thörnlund said: “Beginning the year by stepping up to a new challenge as chief technology officer at Kindred Group.

“I’m looking forward to building on the work done by the great people preceding me,” he added.

Touching on his departure, Smedman said: “Kindred is a fantastic place to work, and I’ve learnt and experienced so many things over the years, together with wonderful colleagues across the globe.

“Having worked from both the Swedish, Australian and currently the Malta office, I’ve met with hundreds and hundreds of great people with a common theme – the passion. Together we have taken Kindred and the industry forward in many aspects, and I’m proud and happy to hand over to Sören who is perfectly fit for the job,” he added.