iGaming platform provider Vyking has appointed João Soares as its new Chief Technology Officer, replacing Helmut Kleinhans, who moves into a new position.
Soares brings more than 10 years of industry experience to the position, having previously held leadership roles with William Hill, BetVictor, and White Hat Gaming.
He also brings a knowledge base from other technology sectors, having worked as Head of Engineering at Vision-Box and as Director of Engineering at Easyship.
“I am thrilled to be joining Vyking at such an exciting time,” commented Soares on his appointment.
“The company’s platform vision, which combines flexibility, scalability and true product ownership for operators, is exactly the type of challenge I’m passionate about. My goal is to help accelerate innovation, build high-performing teams and ensure Vyking continues to set new standards for iGaming technology.”
With White Hat Gaming, Soares served as Head of Engineering, managing over 120 people and ushering in scalable team structures, mentored managers and technical leads, in addition to embedding agile methodologies.
Over five years at BetVictor, Soares worked in senior engineering roles, assisting in the launch of eight native mobile apps across iOS and Android and supporting 60% of the company’s business in the UK, Germany, and Asia. He has also spent time at William Hill as a Development Manager.
Franz Gerhart, CEO of Vyking, added: “João brings the perfect blend of technical expertise, leadership capability, and proven industry experience. His track record of scaling engineering teams and driving transformation at leading operators will be invaluable as Vyking enters its next phase of growth.
Soares replaces Kleinhans as CTO, who is staying with the iGaming platform provider in a different capacity, according to Gerhart.
The CEO said: “I also want to acknowledge Helmut Kleinhans, who has excelled in leading our technology function and is now stepping into a new senior role as Chief Software Architect. This transition reflects his passion for deep technology and innovation, enabling him to focus on advanced engineering across the wider business.
“Helmut’s impact has been pivotal in positioning Vyking for success, and we are thrilled he will continue to shape our technology future.”
