Robertson to Lead IGT Sales Team
Global gaming leader International Game Technology has hired Australian Brad Robertson to head up its sales team and sign on as a senior company director.
Asgam reports that Mr Robertson will oversee the business’ Australia and New Zealand sales operations, having formerly led sales at Aristocrat.
In his new role, he will be responsible for leading IGT’s commercial casino, hotels and clubs sales strategy in the region and marshalling the company’s resources, talent and innovations to deliver optimal customer growth, IGT said.
“With more than 30 years of leadership experience in the gaming industry on both the operator and supplied side, Brad brings an extensive knowledge of the ANZ market that informs a solutions-based approach to customer relationships,” IGT chief operating officer Asia-Pacific Dallas Orchard said.
“His skills as a business partner and industry expert will ensure that IGT exceeds our objectives of continuously driving customer results in the region.”
Mr Robertson joins IGT from Aristocrat, where his nine-year tenure saw him most recently serve as Director of Sales.
Aussie fund takes a slice on Scientific Games
An Australian fund is poised to purchase a 34.9 per cent stake in Scientific Games.
Casino News Daily reported last September that the major provider of gambling products and services confirmed on Monday that Australian fund Caledonia will purchase the stake from MacAndrews and Forbes Incorporated.
MacAndrews and Forbes is managed by billionaire investor Ron Perelman, who said earlier this year he wanted a “less complicated and less leveraged business life” and has been looking for ways to reduce his portfolio as several of his companies have been impacted by the coronavirus pandemic.
Caledonia has reached an agreement with MacAndrews and Forbes to buy nearly 35 per cent of Scientific Games, at a price of $28 per share.
As a result of the transaction, Scientific Games said it would implement a series of governance changes and enhancements.
This will see the gambling technology giant revamp its board of directors and terminate its stockholders agreement with MacAndrews and Forbes.
Caledonia is a Sydney-headquartered global investment management firm.
Aside from its newly acquired stake in Scientific Games, the investor owns a 10.4 per cent stake in Dublin-based Flutter Entertainment, which owns major brands such as Paddy Power, PokerStars and Sky Betting.
Scientific Games said its board will be restructured to include all existing directors except its MacAndrews and Forbes representatives, as well as three new directors.
Former Aristocrat chief executive Jamie Odell and former Aristocrat chief financial officer Toni Korsanos will join the company’s board as executive chair and executive vice chair, respectively.
Mr Perelman, current executive chairman of the Scientific Games Board, will be serving as an additional independent non-executive director, while Barry Schwartz and Frances Townsend, the two other MacAndrews and Forbes representatives, will resign following the completion of the transaction.
Scientific Games said its revamped board will oversee the implementation of “transformative strategies” and will be working to optimise the company’s business portfolio and shareholder value.
Some of these strategies include accelerating debt reduction efforts and increased focus on online gaming and sports betting growth opportunities.
Shares in Scientific Games tanked earlier this year as land-based casinos using the company’s gambling machines closed doors to curb the spread of the virus.
Its stock price has recovered some of the losses it sustained, but the negative impact from the worst health panic the world has experienced is clear.
Scientific Games recently announced several more important deals as it looks to grow its presence in regulated US sports betting markets.
In early September, the company extended an existing partnership with Wynn Sports, the sports gambling operation of casino powerhouse Wynn Resorts, to include the states of Colorado and Indiana.
