LeoVegas spins out responsible gambling business for major sustainability push
Stockholm-listed firm also announces senior management team reshuffle with new COO and deputy CEO
LeoVegas has spun out its LeoSafePlay arm into an entirely new business unit to help the division develop a “next generation responsible gaming system” without the P&L pressures of the wider company.
The new division will be led by Rikard Ljungman, who is leaving his position as chief commercial officer to focus entirely on responsible gaming.
“Rikard was one of the initiative-takers behind LeoSafePlay, and with his strong product background, including as CPO for the software company Episerver, he has the exact right expertise to take the next step to make LeoVegas the leader in responsible gaming technology and strengthen our position as a GameTech company,” said Gustaf Hagman, LeoVegas group CEO.
The move was announced this morning as part of a major reshuffling of LeoVegas senior management, all focused on driving an agenda of “sustainability and growth”.
As part of the reshuffle, current CMO Louise Nylén will assume the newly created role of deputy CEO from today, with a focus on strategy.
“In my new role as deputy CEO I will have a broader platform to work from, which will enable me to promote sustainability, growth and value for the company,” said Nylén. “I am very excited to have this trust and opportunity to continue contributing to LeoVegas’ rapid development.”
Nylen’s former role as CMO will be broken up into several roles in Malta and phased out.
Elsewhere, Richard Woodbridge has been recruited as LeoVegas’ new chief operating officer (COO) with overarching responsibility for operations in Malta.
Woodbridge, who comes from an e-commerce background, will assume his new role by 7 January 2019 at the latest and will be a member of LeoVegas’ group management.
“I am looking forward to being part of LeoVegas’ continued journey of growth and optimising LeoVegas’ operations, with sustainability as a guiding principle,” Woodbridge said.
Hagman added: “Overarching responsibility for operations is growing increasingly important now that we have some 750 employees, of whom 400 are based in Malta. LeoVegas is a data-driven company in which we use a number of key metrics to further improve ourselves and increase our productivity.
“This has become even more crucial as we have begun acquiring companies and working with multiple brands. With his experience and capacity Richard will make a major contribution to our growth going forward.”
LeoVegas’ current COO, Marcus Nylén, will continue serving in that role in Malta through autumn 2018 until Woodbridge takes office. Due to his close relationship with Louise Nylén, Marcus will leave the group management to focus on his role as head of LeoVegas’ global expansion.
LeoVegas was recently crowned Brand of the Year at the EGR Marketing & Innovation awards.