Sportingtech secures former GAN exec as new CEO
Tom Ustunel becomes first CEO since May 2022 as firm plans further expansion in Latam in the coming year
Sportingtech has appointed former GAN and News UK head Tom Ustunel as its new CEO.
Ustunel has been drafted in to replace former MD Bobby Longhurst after he departed in October last year. Longhurst has since joined EveryMatrix as CCO.
Longhurst had been heading up the business in the guise of MD following an executive reshuffle at Sportingtech in July 2022.
That reshuffle was put in place after former CEO Ivo Doroteia left the company in May 2022.
In his new role, Ustunel will be the “spearhead” of the supplier’s expansion plans as it looks to grow further in Latam.
Ustunel joins the business after nearly two years with First Gen Consulting; a consultancy business he founded after departing GAN in May 2022.
He spent two years with GAN, initially joining the B2B supplier as VP of gaming operations in May 2020 before being made chief of gaming operations in March 2021.
Before his time with GAN, Ustunel spent nearly seven years with News UK across a number of roles.
He joined the media giant in July 2013 as the firm’s head of betting, bingo and gaming before being made product partnership director for betting and bingo in February 2016 where was in charge of The Sun and Fabulous Bingo.
His final role at News UK came in November 2016 as betting and gaming director.
Ustunel also held senior-level roles at The Rank Group and Smart Gaming Group.
On his new role, Ustunel said: “Sportingtech has been on an incredible trajectory in recent years and 2023 saw unprecedented success, which we are looking to not only replicate but also build on.
“I am thrilled to be working with such a talented team of people across the entire business during what promises to be an exciting time as we look to further cement ourselves as the go-to provider for operators,” he added.
Arnold Ash is EGR’s Executive Recruitment Partner. They support ambitious organisations to identify and attract industry leading executive talent. Find out more here.