Strive Gaming adds former Flutter exec as CTO
Ian Smith joins PAM supplier having played an “instrumental” role in success at Hills and Flutter, as well as Rank Group and Game Play Network
Strive Gaming has bolstered its senior team with the addition of industry veteran Ian Smith as its new chief technology officer (CTO).
Smith joins the North America-facing PAM supplier from Game Play Network where he held the same position since May 2022.
He first entered the igaming industry back in March 2002 as an analyst programmer for William Hill and worked his way up through the ranks in various roles during his near 17-year stay, including head of online architecture, group chief architect and finally global director of technology.
After leaving William Hill at the start of 2019, Smith joined Stride Gaming Group three months later as CTO. While there, the firm was acquired by Rank Group.
He held on to his title and played a key role at Rank as the group expanded its PAM and omnichannel capabilities before departing in July 2021 to join Flutter as director of technology strategy of its international division.
Just under a year later, Smith joined Game Play Network as its CTO where he stayed until making the move to Strive Gaming.
The supplier said Smith’s experience would bring a “unique perspective” to Strive Gaming and noted the exec had been “instrumental” in all the aforementioned businesses’ growth stories.
Commenting on his arrival, Smith said he was looking forward to helping the firm become the “number one PAM provider in North America”.
He remarked: “I’m thrilled to join the talented team at Strive Gaming. Having worked with their PAM product from a customer perspective, I have first-hand experience of its quality and potential.
“I am confident that, together, we can further evolve the company and achieve our vision of becoming the number one PAM provider in North America.”
Max Meltzer, Strive Gaming CEO, lauded Smith’s arrival and said the move would enable the supplier to achieve its goals.
He said: “We are delighted to welcome Ian Smith to Strive Gaming as our new CTO. Ian has rare characteristics: exceptional hands-on skill, experience and yet a sense of calm, humility and above all a desire to help talent around him flourish.
“This coupled with his extensive industry experience in the gaming industry make him the right person to lead our technical initiatives and help the business achieve its goals.”
Smith’s appointment comes a month after Strive Gaming confirmed a new undisclosed funding round, led by OpenBet, to drive growth at the company.
Smith becomes the latest edition to the company’s C-suite following the arrival of Kambi’s former SVP of legal Tommaso Di Chio last October as chief legal officer.
Arnold Ash is EGR’s Executive Recruitment Partner. They support ambitious organisations to identify and attract industry leading executive talent. Find out more here.