People news 12 September 2013
The latest people moves from the egaming industry in the last seven days (6 September to 12 September 2013)
Ex-Probability COO Sunderland joins Nektan
Mobile gaming veteran takes on same role at casino game supplier’s Gibraltar office
Cross-platform game developer Nektan has appointed former Probability COO Matt Sunderland to its senior management team.
Mobile operator Probability announced last month that Sunderland was to leave the company after four years’ service, stating his resignation to be effective immediately as he pursues opportunities outside of the UK.
However eGaming Review has learned that Sunderland will join London and Gibraltar-based Nektan as COO.
“We are delighted to welcome Matt to the Nektan team and look forward to working with him as he takes over running our exciting gaming operations across the USA and regulated European markets.” Gary Shaw, founder and chairman of Nektan said.
Sunderland previously worked with Shaw while at St.Minver and subsequently at GTECH.
Seven days in people news:
BetVictor hires Asia director from Betsson
Gibraltar-licensed operator BetVictor has hired Betsson’s Magnus Grinneback as managing director for its Asian market operations, eGaming Review has learned.
Grinneback joins from Swedish operator Betsson, where he spent five-and-a-half years with roles including director of Asia, business area director, and product director and acting CEO.
He will be tasked with expanding BetVictor’s Asian-facing operations and overseeing a range of new product launches in the region. Grinneback said that the operator was increasing its focus on the Asian market where he said it had a “strong brand and heritage”.
“Asia is a big and mature market,” Grinneback told eGR. “The quality is not quite there yet but it will be soon. [The market’s] development will be fun, just like egaming was a few years ago.”
Metro Play names Walters as managing director
Alderney-licensed Metro Play has announced that current executive director Jamie Walters has been appointed as the new managing director of the operator.
Walters will take up his new role in October as part of a reshuffle which will see Rory Miller-Cheevers become the brand’s head of commercial for the business.
“Since launch Metro Play is off to a great start; rapidly expanding in terms of its customer base, products and staff numbers,” Walters said. “I’m looking forward to focusing fully on this fast growing, mobile-led business and driving forward with our ambition of being the UK’s number one mobile gaming brand.”
Lottomatica has appointed Giulio Astarita as its new interactive poker director. Before joining the Italian operator, Astarita previously held the role of operations and poker room manager at PokerStars.
Vitaliano Casalone has been hired by virtual sports supplier Inspired Gaming Group to focus on building on its success in Italy. Casalone’s most recent position was as chairman of Gamenet and was previously CEO of Lottomatica International for five years.