COO Appointment

RNS Number : 3136H

GVC Holdings PLC

30 November 2015

 

GVC Holdings PLC

("GVC" or the "Company")

Key Chief Operating Officer Appointment Following proposed Recommended Acquisition of bwin.party digital entertainment plc ("bwin.party")

GVC Holdings PLC (AIM:GVC), a leading online gaming operator in both b2c and b2b markets, is pleased to announce the appointment of Shay Segev to the newly created role of Chief Operating Officer.

Shay, the former Chief Operating Officer of Playtech PLC, is recognised as one of the leading technology and product experts in the online gaming industry with a wealth of experience gained at several companies across the sector. In this new role Shay will be responsible for strategic and operational direction across the enlarged group and will lead the integration of the GVC and bwin.party technology platforms following completion of the recommended merger, which is expected to occur on 2 February 2016.

The GVC Board believes that Shay's considerable expertise in online gaming, commercialising technology, product integration and platform assimilation will be an invaluable asset in ensuring the successful integration of GVC's and bwin.party's products, brands and operation.

Shay is renowned in the online gaming industry as a leading specialist in growing businesses through product and technology innovation, particularly focused on superior player experiences. With nearly twenty years' experience in the sector, Shay is the only person to have been cited twice in the Gaming Intelligence "Hot 50 executives" report, in both 2012 and 2014. He has also been recognised in the industry with his position representing Playtech on the Gaming Standard Association (GSA) and in the Lottery associations (ELA and WLA).

As Chief Operating Officer of FTSE 250 Playetch PLC, one of the online gaming industry's leading software and services suppliers, Shay was instrumental in transforming the business by delivering world class online gaming products to a global audience through an omni-channel approach and providing market leading solutions to operators.

Shay was Playtech's key liaison for many key licensees and his broad industry knowledge and experience will be of major importance to the enlarged GVC's development.

Shay is currently Chief Strategy Officer for Gala Coral Group, developing the company's Omni-channel growth strategy. It is expected that Shay will join GVC, initially on a non-Board basis, on 1 March 2016 reporting to the GVC Board.

Kenny Alexander, CEO of GVC Holdings, commented:

"I could not be more pleased to welcome Shay to the GVC team. Central to the year on year growth of GVC has been investment in industry leading personnel. Shay is recognised in the industry as one of the leading figures in online gaming. His knowledge and experience of integrating technology businesses across all product verticals, from casino to sportsbook products, will be central to the success of the enlarged GVC/bwin.party group which we expect to complete in early February 2016. Everyone at GVC and bwin.party are excited to be working with Shay and we are confident he will be a key player in the success of one the largest online gaming operators in the world following completion of the bwin.party acquisition."

Shay Segev, COO of GVC Holdings, commented:

"I am delighted to be joining what I see as the most exciting and innovative opportunity in the online gaming industry. I am looking forward to working with Kenny and his team to deliver world class services and products to an ever increasing audience. My experience at Playtech and Gala Coral is highly transferable and I am confident will deliver for the enlarged GVC and bwin.party group's shareholders."

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For further information:

GVC Holdings PLC
Kenneth Alexander, Chief Executive	Tel: [phone]
Richard Cooper, Group Finance Director	www.gvc-plc.com

Cenkos Securities plc (Nomad & Broker)	Tel: [phone]
Mark Connelly, Stephen Keys, Camilla Hume

Media enquiries:

Bell Pottinger	Tel: [phone]
David Rydell, James Newman, Anna Legge, Laura Jaques

About GVC Holdings PLC

GVC Holdings PLC is a leading e-gaming operator in both B2C and B2B markets.  Its core brands are CasinoClub, Betboo and Sportingbet. The Group has over 700 employees/consultants and is headquartered in the Isle of Man with licenses (or interim licenses) in Malta, Denmark, Greece, UK, Romania, South Africa, and the Dutch Caribbean.

Further information on the Group is available at www.gvc-plc.com

 

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