People news 29 January 2015
The latest people news from the egaming industry in the last seven days (23 January to 29 January 2015)
Sky Betting and Gaming launches major recruitment drive
Operator to expand headcount to more than 650 following the creation of 90 new jobs primarily in technology and gaming
Sky Betting and Gaming has kicked-off a substantial expansion of its workforce with the creation of 90 new jobs, taking the total headcount of the firm to more than 650.
The Alderney-licensed operator is now hiring for roles based out of its Wellington Place headquarters in Leeds across all divisions of the business including technology, product development and marketing.
Speaking to eGaming Review, managing director Richard Flint the decision to launch the major recruitment drive was the result of substantial company growth over the last 12 months.
“At a time when much of the egaming industry is facing the challenges of the Point of Consumption Tax, we have momentum and are focused on growth and expansion,” Flint said.
666BET CEO Barry Martin stands down
666BET is searching for a new chief executive after Barry Martin decided to take up a new consultancy role.
Martin has relinquished the chief executive position a little more than a year after first taking up the role, having joined in late 2013 to help plot the operator’s high-profile launch, which took place last June.
The former Gutshot Poker CEO also played a major part in the operator’s acquisition of Metro Play in September and prior to today’s news was thought to be closing in on further M&A deals.
Seven days in people news:
Bgo names new group MD
Bgo Entertainment has promoted its group finance director Hannah Westley to the newly-created role of group managing director.
Westley was appointed to the senior role earlier this month after working as group finance director at the firm since 2009.
Westley moved to Malta, where Bgo’s holding company is based, to take up the role which was created following the sale of the group’s Mandalay Media subsidiary to Intertain Group.
Winner director of sportsbook exits
Winner’s director of sportsbook Tsahi Shmuel has left the operator to partner with former colleague Yoni Sidi at new digital marketing agency.
As previously reported by eGR, Winner’s chief marketing officer Sidi left the firm on 1 January to start marketing firm Market Box Media, which will provide full conversion, retention and marketing solutions to the egaming industry.
It has since emerged that Shmuel has also vacated his role at Winner to become managing director of the new marketing venture, which he co-founded.
OLG head of interactive exits for Amaya
Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corp’s (OLG) SVP of interactive George Sweny has left the firm in order to take up a new position at Canadian gaming giant Amaya Gaming.
Sweny joins Toronto-based Amaya as vice-president of strategic ventures and his departure from OLG coming just weeks after the provincial operator finally launched its real-money gaming site after years of planning.
Sweny, who helped develop the responsible gaming strategy for PlayOLG.ca, is on the board of the Responsible Gaming Council of Canada, and has previously served on the board of the North American State Provincial Lotteries Association.
Ex-OpenBet tech lead Kryvossidis joins Camelot as CTO
Camelot Global has appointed OpenBet’s former SVP of sportsbook and casino operations, Nikos Kryvossidis, as its new chief technology officer.
Kryvossidis will take charge of the lottery operator’s UK technology and product pipeline when he officially joins in April and will report directly to Camelot CEO Nigel Railton.
He joins Camelot from sports betting and gaming supplier OpenBet where he oversaw the firm’s sportsbook and casino technology for three-and-a-half years.