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Europe
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Flutter has appointed experienced American business executive John Bryant as a non-executive director and chair designate of its board. Currently a non-executive at Ball Corporation, Compass Group and Coca-Cola, Bryant is the former CEO of Kellogg Company. He will replace Gary McGann as chair at Flutter from September 1.
Alfred Zammit has been chosen as the Malta Financial Intelligence Analysis Unit's acting director. He takes over from Kenneth Farrugia, who became CEO of the Malta Financial Services Authority on April 12.
Dutch land-based slot machine trade group VAN Kansspelen has selected Henry Meijdam as its new chair. A former town mayor and director of a group representing the interests of provinces in the Netherlands, Meijam succeeds VAN interim chair Aad Kobus.
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North America
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Light & Wonder Inc. has hired Niaz Nejad as managing director of gaming for the Americas and will join the company later this year, once her non-compete period ends. Most recently, Nejad served as the senior vice president and head of marketing for the U.S. and Canada at Aristocrat Gaming.
Melissa Lambson has joined casino market company Marker Trax as its chief credit officer. In her new position, Lambson will be responsible for maximizing risk management in credit underwriting procedures and issuance with company officials and clients. Prior to Marker Trax, Lambson co-founded Cash Factory USA, a loan product company.
GeoComply has hired former U.S. Secret Service Special Agent Michael Dawson to its risk service team. Dawson joins GeoComply as law enforcement liaison following more than 23 years with the Secret Service, where he specialized in investigations of cybercrime, fraud and money laundering related to cryptocurrencies.
Iowa’s Republican Governor Kim Reynolds has nominated Alan Ostergren to serve on the state’s Racing and Gaming Commission. Ostergren is president and chief counsel of The Kirkwood Institute and successfully represented the Trump administration’s challenge of voter registration forms mail by auditors in three counties for the 2020 general election.
Reynolds also reappointed Daryl Olsen, whose original appointment was on May 1, 2020. Both must be confirmed by at least 34 senators to serve as racing and gaming commissioners. Republicans currently hold 34 seats in the 50-member Iowa Senate.
The Fantasy Sports & Gaming Association (FSGA) has named eight newly elected directors to join its 21-person board. They are: Paul Charchian, Guillotine Leagues; Matt Deutsch, Bettor Sports Network; Howard Kamen, Advance Local; David Kurtz, NHL; Peter Schoenke, RotoWire; Stacie Stern, Underdog Sports; Matt Tremblay, FanDuel; and Rick Wolf, Spotlight Sports Group. Tremblay was elected to a two-year term while the others will serve for three years.
John Salerno has been named chief operating officer of Bet Booth Inc., a Las Vegas-based technology company that enables the use of government-issued identification to sign up at a kiosk in less than a minute through its built-in biometric platform. Salerno will oversee all aspects of the company’s operations, including product development, customer service, and growth initiatives.
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Asia-Pacific
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Casino operator Wynn Resorts announced on April 30 that it appointed long-time Marriott Hotels and Starwood Hotels executive Thomas Schoen as president of its property in the United Arab Emirates. Schoen will oversee development of the Wynn Al Marjan Island integrated resort in the emirate of Ras Al Khaimah, which is scheduled to open in early 2027.
Macau casino operator SJM Holdings announced on April 27 the retirement of veteran executive director, vice chairman and CEO Ambrose So, effective at the company’s AGM on June 15. The 21-year employee of the company, including 16 years as CEO, was a right-hand man to the late SJM mogul Stanley Ho and part of the more conservative faction of SJM executives. SJM did not immediately name a replacement. So’s retirement quickly follows SJM’s securing of a new, ten-year casino concession from the Macau government. He will remain a director of company subsidiary SJM Resorts.
BMM Testlabs promoted Reena Varma, its head of quality and operations for India, to senior vice president of operations for India, according to a statement on April 24. Varma joined the company in 2021 and was instrumental in developing the company’s laboratory in the tech hub city of Gurgaon.
BMM also announced on April 17 the promotion of Vineet Malhotra to vice president of technical services and compliance for Asia.
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Flutter appoints an ex-cereal boss to run its board, Light & Wonder appoints a new Americas chief and Wynn chooses who will run its upcoming resort in the United Arab Emirates.
