People news 8 January 2015
The latest people news from the egaming industry in the last seven days
William Hill CMO Fahy readies exit
Kristof Fahy to leave firm by end of March as operator kicks-off search for newly created group brand director
William Hill chief marketing officer Kristof Fahy (pictured) is to stand down at the end of March with the company set to re-jig its marketing team by creating a new group brand director role.
Fahy, who joined William Hill from Yahoo in 2010, has played a prominent role in the development of the operator’s digital business and masterminded the company’s 2014 World Cup marketing strategy, which helped the firm secure the marketing campaign of the year award at November’s eGR Operator Awards.
Making the announcement on Twitter, Fahy said he had enjoyed a “brilliant five years” at William Hill although gave no indication of his next move.
William Hill confirmed it would not be replacing Fahy directly; instead his responsibilities will be split between director of online marketing Alex O’Shaughnessy, head of retail marketing Peter Spiers and a newly created position of group brand director.
Winner CMO Yoni Sidi departs
Winner’s chief marketing officer Yoni Sidi has left the Playtech-powered firm to launch his own marketing agency.
Sidi left Winner on 1 January after more than two-and-a-half years at the operator to start marketing firm Market Box Media, which will provide full conversion, retention and marketing solutions to the egaming industry and others.
Market Box Media has already secured Winner as a client, in addition to Bets.com and Casino Del Rio, and will run a new affiliate programme AffRevenues.
Seven days in people news:
Stan James head of PR departs
Stan James head of PR Rory Jiwani has decided to leave the firm in order to focus on “other projects”, the operator told eGaming Review.
Jiwani, who became the face of Stan James after regularly appearing on shows such as Channel 4 Racing and satellite channel AtTheRaces, left the firm at the end of December after spending three years with the bookie.
Speaking to eGR, a spokesperson for Stan James confirmed Jiwani’s departure, although added Jiwani may still work with the firm on “a few things” over the coming months.
Unibet names Andrew West as interim poker head
Unibet has promoted poker business development manager Andrew West as head of poker on an interim basis while it searches for a permanent replacement for the recently departed Martin Stalros.
The role was vacated earlier this month after Stalros joined Estonia-based poker software supplier Relax Gaming as its new chief operating officer (COO) after announcing his decision to leave in Q4 2014.
A permanent appointment, for which West is thought to be under consideration, will be made by the operator’s head of gaming Daniel Eskola in the coming months.
Software solutions provider EveryMatrix has announced the appointment of Sandra Barton to lead the company’s payment product development department.
Barton joins the company from BetVictor where she worked as head of paymments risk and compliance for nearly three years and previously worked as head of risk investigations at Betfair from 2004 until 2007.
“We are pleased to have Sandra join our growing business,” Ebbe Groes, chief executive of EveryMatrix, said.
“With her wealth of knowledge and experience within payments and fraud, a business critical function for us and our partners, we will continue to develop cutting edge products which are robust, secure and compliant to meet the needs of our clients and the industry,” he added.