Holland Casino names new CEO to replace outgoing Erwin van Lambaart

Holland Casino has announced Petra de Ruiter as its new CEO from 1 September 2022 following the departure of Erwin van Lambaart.

De Ruiter joins the operator from airline company Transavia where she spent more than a decade in a number of roles, most recently serving as the organisation’s chief operating officer since September 2016.

She originally joined the company in November 2011 as VP of cabin operations and her transition to the CEO role at Holland Casino will mark her first foray into the gambling industry.

De Ruiter previously held senior roles at Air France-KLM across sales and marketing.

She will replace Erwin van Lambaart as CEO, who is set to join Casinos Austria as the company’s general manager, having confirmed his departure in November.

Van Lambaart has served as Holland Casino CEO since March 2016 and oversaw the firm’s online casino launch following the regulation of the Dutch market on 1 October 2021.

From 1 September, Holland Casino’s board of directors will be made up of de Ruiter, CFO Ruud Bergervoet and chief compliance officer Malinda Miener.

Speaking on her appointment, de Ruiter said: “In the coming period I look forward to getting to know many new colleagues from the branches and the online casino in person.

“After all, they are the face of our company. I am grateful to Transavia and all colleagues for the past few years. At the same time, I am also very much looking forward to this new role and this great challenge,” she added.

Willem Bröcker, Holland Casino chair, commented: “Petra de Ruiter’s experience and knowledge in the specific combination of guest experience and operational excellence fits in perfectly with the person we were looking for after the departure of the previous CEO Erwin van Lambaart.”

The appointment of de Ruiter as CEO is subject to review and a positive decision by DNB, according to the Dutch operator.