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Europe
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The European Casino Association (ECA) has appointed Tiina Siltanen as its vice chair. Siltanen is the general manager at Casino Helsinki and Tampere, two Veikkaus-owned operations in Finland, and has served on the ECA board for the past two years.
Maris Catania, long-time responsible gambling expert at Kindred Group, has left the operator to open her own consultancy. After 14 years with the company, Malta-based Catania is to be replaced by Esther Scheepers.
Joe Saumarez Smith’s term as the chair of the British Horseracing Authority (BHA) has been extended until May 31, 2025, which will bring his tenure to a full three-year term. “I am delighted that Joe’s term as chair has been extended. We have made great progress together in resolving the sport’s governance structure and initiating work on an industry strategy. Now is the time for stability as we look to develop and implement the strategy,” said BHA chief executive Julie Harrington.
Elsewhere, the BHA has appointed an independent ombudsman to oversee handicap rating appeals. David Cleary will fill the newly-created role of handicapping ombudsman, with racing journalist Ian Heitman serving as deputy ombudsman.
The BHA was also part of the steering committee that has created the Industry People Board, an initiative in the UK racing industry to recruit, train and retain workers in the industry, alongside promoting welfare, equality, diversity and inclusion. It will be chaired by Neil Hayward, who has previous board and executive experience at firms such as BT, the NHS and the Ministry of Justice.
The International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) has appointed Karen Moorhouse as its new CEO. She will join the watchdog in February after 14 years as the chief regulatory officer at UK’s Rugby Football League. She replaces Jonny Gray, who left the ITIA in September.
Steven Esom is to step down as non-executive director and chair of the remuneration committee at Rank Group after six years on the board. He will be succeeded by Lucinda Charles-Jones.
Safer gambling software provider Mindway AI has appointed Britt Boeskov to its board of directors. She previously worked at Kindred Group for 17 years, alongside a stint at affiliate company Better Collective.
Irish bookmaker BoyleSports has selected ex-William Hill director Vlad Kaltenieks as its new chief executive. He replaces Mark Kemp, who left the company in July after a year to join streaming platform DAZN.
Supplier FSB has appointed Adam Smith as interim CEO, as it de-prioritises operations in the United States to focus on work in Canada, the UK, Europe and Africa.
The chief executive of online bingo operator Buzz Bingo, Chris Matthews, has stepped down, to be replaced by former chief operating officer Dominic Mansour.
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North America
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Brett Abarbanel has been named executive director of the International Gaming Institute at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV). Abarbanel, who had served as director of research, replaces Bo Bernhard, who will continue to serve as UNLV’s vice president of economic development.
The California Nations Indian Gaming Association (CNIGA) re-elected Mike Lopez and Daniel Salgado to the positions of vice chairman and secretary on CNIGA’s executive committee. At a membership meeting, Michael Vasquez was also elected to the central district at-large representative position.
Not up for re-election in 2022 and continuing their terms on the executive board are CNIGA chairman James Siva, treasurer Isaiah Vivanco and at-large representatives Jack Potter (Eastern district) and Josh Muse (southern district), as well as Russell Witt, the associate member representative.
Scientific Games has named James Schultz, a veteran attorney and policy advisor, as the company’s executive vice president, global public policy and government affairs. Prior to joining Scientific Games, he was appointed in November to the transition team for Pennsylvania Governor-elect Josh Shapiro.
The Canadian Gaming Association has appointed five new members to its board of directors. Those selected are: Bruce Caughill, managing director for Rush Street Interactive in Canada; Mark Harper, general manager at NS Sports; Charmaine Hogan head of regulatory affairs at Playtech; Dale Hooper, general manager of FanDuel Canada; and Niaz Nejad, senior vice president and head of marketing for the U.S. and Canada at Aristocrat Gaming.
Great Canadian Entertainment has promoted Ron Urquhart, its current executive vice president of operations in Toronto, to chief operating officer. Gavin Whiteley has been appointed chief marketing officer, after joining the company from Caesars Entertainment in Las Vegas where he oversaw the loyalty program.
Andrea Carter has been appointed to the Churchill Downs Incorporated board of directors. Carter is currently serving as senior executive vice president and chief human resources officer for Global Payments in Atlanta. Carter was appointed as a Class II director and her term will expire at the 2025 annual shareholders meeting. Her appointment increased Churchill’s board to nine members.
Gaming Laboratories International (GLI) has named Lydia D’Amore as director of regulatory compliance. D’Amore will oversee the process for regulatory compliance and licensing for GLI’s subsidiaries. Most recently, D’Amore served as chief financial officer for Long Beach Township in New Jersey.
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Asia-Pacific
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Australian casino operator Star Entertainment Group announced the resignation of director Katie Lahey after she was named as a defendant in a corporate regulator lawsuit against 11 current and former directors and senior managers in mid-December. Lahey stepped down on December 30. Joining the board as independent non-executive director just prior to the resignation is former Suncorp Bank CEO David Foster, who received regulatory approvals after his nomination in August.
Star Entertainment on December 28 also announced the appointment of Christina Katsibouba as CFO on a permanent basis, effective January 1. Katsibouba had been interim CFO since May.
Tokyo-based gaming machine manufacturer Sega Sammy Creation appointed Naoki Kameda as president and CEO and Koichi Fukazawa as chairman on December 2, according to a December 23 press release. Kameda was promoted from the posts of COO and CFO of Sega Networks and of president and COO of Sega Sammy Creation USA. Fukazawa is also chairman and CFO of parent company Sega Sammy.
Nitish Mittersain, the founder of Indian gaming and sports media platform Nazara Technologies, has regained his position as CEO after the resignation of Manish Agarwal. He resumed the post on December 1, according to his LinkedIn page. Mittersain founded the company in 2000 and operations have expanded to North America and Africa.
Casino operator Wynn Macau announced the appointment of Wynn Resorts executive vice president and general counsel Ellen Whittemore to its board as non-executive director, replacing Matt Maddox, who departed on December 31. As of January 1, Whittemore is also a non-executive director of Wynn Resorts.
The board of Macau’s Fisherman Wharf owner and hotel casino operator Macau Legend Development is continuing to restructure after the prosecution of former CEO and junket kingpin Levo Chan. The company announced on December 15 in a Hong Kong bourse filing that CEO Melinda Chan was to be replaced by chairman Li Chu Kwan on January 1, with Chan now serving as vice chairman and retaining her executive director role. Veteran Macau gaming powerbroker and Macau Legend shareholder Li Chi Keung was also appointed as “chief consultant” of the company, effective on the same date. Li Chu Kwan is a former long-time CEO of the Macau Jockey Club.
Macau regulator Gaming Inspection and Coordination Bureau (DICJ) announced the promotion of gaming inspection division head Paulo Jorge Moreira Castelo Basaloco to lead the entire Gaming Inspection Department, according to a December 7 statement. Basaloco has worked for the regulator since 1988.
Macau gaming machine manufacturer and casino operator Paradise Entertainment announced that long-time chairman Jay Chun will be joined as co-chairman by finance expert, banker and investor Zhang Jianjun, effective December 22. Chun will continue to serve as managing director.
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Latin America
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Roger José Carrillo Campo has been appointed president of the Colombian gambling regulator Coljuegos by President Gustavo Petro. A trained economist, Carrillo launched his political career as a conservative in 1986 and served as a Bogotá councillor from 2012 to 2016. He replaces outgoing president César Augusto Valencia, whose last day in office will be January 11.
Rita Serrano will assume the role of president of Brazil’s Caixa Econômica Federal this week, the public bank that oversees all federal lotteries. She has been with Caixa since 1989 and has been a director there since 2017.
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Fresh deputy leadership in place at the European Casino Association, a new face at the top of the International Gaming Institute, more figures exit Star Entertainment and there's a new head regulator in Colombia.
