Buzz Bingo shifts commercial chief to head up retail division
Stevie Shaves becomes COO of retail as multi-channel bingo firm looks to capitalise on its club portfolio reopening post-Covid
Buzz Bingo has shifted its chief commercial officer (CCO) Stevie Shaves to become the operator’s chief operating officer (COO) for its retail arm.
Shaves moves over to head up the bingo company’s retail operations after more than five-and-a-half years across a series of digital and commercial roles.
He originally joined Buzz Bingo in December 2016 as a digital director before being promoted to chief digital officer in December 2018.
Shaves was then appointed CCO in January 2021.
Shaves boasts a strong bingo CV, having previously served as Playtech operations director for bingo managing the group’s Sun Bingo, Fabulous Bingo, Mirror Bingo and Mirror Casino brands.
He also spent time with Rank Group and Ladbrokes Coral in senior position prior to joining Playtech.
Shaves’ switch to the group’s retail arm comes as Buzz Bingo’s land-based operations continue to return to strength following Covid-19.
Retail revenue rose from £82.1m in 2020 to £112.3m for full-year 2021, coupled with a downturn in online revenue from £40m to £27.6m.
Buzz Bingo’s board said: “The effect of the Covid-19 pandemic on the leisure industry has been catastrophic and the group has not escaped the impacts of this.
“On reopening, the business maintained its strong Covid-19 measures for both colleagues and customers, which it had first introduced in the prior year, and repositioned the core product offerings to better match the expected new trading dynamics.
“The business had a successful reopening phase, which is testament to the skill and dedication of our colleagues. The reopening itself exceeded expectations, with the club environment and the underlying changes to the products being well received by both customers and colleagues.”