People news 29/3/2012
A round up of people news from the last week (23 March to 29 March 2012).
Mattingley confirmed as 888 CEO
Mattingley officially appointed CEO after overseeing 26% rise in group revenues in FY2011.
888’s former deputy chairman Brian Mattingley has been officially appointed group CEO, the company has confirmed as it announced its results for the year ending 31 December 2011.
Since stepping in as interim CEO to replace Gigi Levy, who left the company in April last year, Mattingley has overseen a turnaround in the group’s fortunes, posting the group’s second-highest half-year revenues in August 2011 followed by a 42% year-on-year rise in Q3 revenues and 28% growth in the final quarter of the year. This has resulted in a 26% rise in the group’s revenues for the year, up from US$262.1m to $331m, with EBITDA rising from $28.6m to $55.6m for the year.
Chairman of 888 Richard Kilsby commented: “We are delighted that Brian has agreed to take the Chief Executive Officer position on a permanent basis. Brian has been a member of the 888 Board since the IPO and has an excellent knowledge of both the business and the wider industry.”
Ludlow to leave SciGames
Co-founder of subsidiary Games Media to pursue other interests from end of April.
Andrew Ludlow, co-founder and managing director of Scientific Games subsidiary Games Media, has decided to leave the company at the end of April to pursue other interests.
He has managed Games Media since its creation in 2003 and was also involved with Barcrest since Scientific Games acquired the gaming machine business from IGT last year.
Chris Sullivan, formerly of Starbucks and Crown Leisure, has been appointed managing director for Barcrest and Games Media’s pub, bingo and arcade businesses with immediate effect.
Black Friday indictees plead guilty
Elie and Campos change pleas two weeks before expected trial “ judge delays Campos plea
Chad Elie and John Campos, two of the payment processors indicted on Black Friday, have pleaded guilty just two weeks before they are expected to go on trial in New York.
Elie and Campos were due to go before a Manhattan court on April 9, however their new pleas mean the trial will be delayed.
Campos’ guilty was plea was subsequently delayed by Judge Lewis Kaplan, who suggested the US government was attempting to “walk away” from the case.
Paul Leyland and Andy Lee join Hills
William Hill has appointed two new members to its corporate development office team. With the appointment of Andy Lee and Paul Leyland, CEO Ralph Topping said the firm was “dipping into the City in search for ‘brains and talent’.”
Andy Lee, the new head of business integration, joined Hills last month after spending one year with Jefferies & Company as a travel and leisure equity analyst.
Seven days in people moves:
Betgenius hire business development manager
Max Wright joins from Press Association Sport.
Betgenius have announced the appointment of Max Wright as business development manager of the company.
Wright joins from the Press Association Sport, where he spent a year as commercial manager for racing and betting. He previously worked for Dennis Publishing as an account manager for the entertainment and gambling divisions.
Anneli Kansbod is leaving her role as casino director of Mr Green after almost two years to move back to Stockholm.
Mittu Sridhara has left his role as CIO at Ladbrokes to become chief information officer at German travel group TUI Travel. He will also become a member of TUI Travel’s group management board, and develop common technology platforms across the business.
Stephen Shaper has been appointed as non-executive director at online payments company Optimal Payments. Shaper is currently a consultant and board member of US internet small loan company Think Finance, and a director and founder of Middlemarch Capital Corp, a US private equity business focused on high technology growth companies.
Following restructuring at Betclic Everest, Tarquin Henderson has moved on from his role as chief marketing officer, while David Emsworth is no longer group head of registration, payments and fraud. Michaela Bianchi is also leaving her role head of HR.