Playtech has announced the appointment of John Gleasure to its board as an independent Non-Executive Director and Chair Elect.
Gleasure is expected to begin his role as Chair following Playtech’s annual general meeting next month, coinciding with Brian Mattingley stepping down as Chair and from the company’s board.
“I am delighted to be joining Playtech at such a pivotal moment in its history,” commented Gleasure on his appointment.
“Playtech is a unique and highly innovative business, underpinned by market-leading technology and relationships with the world’s leading gambling operators. I’m excited about the opportunities ahead, and I look forward to working with everyone at Playtech to drive forward its strategy and create further value for our shareholders.”
Gleasure brings 30 years of sports, media and technology knowledge, as well as relevant board experience from a variety of international companies, to Playtech.
Currently, he is a Non-executive Director at the sports subscription service DAZN Group, and is in the same role at the digital publisher The Sporting News, where he was also previously Executive Chair. He has also held leadership roles at Sky Sports, Hutchison 3G and Sony Pictures.
Gleasure is also the Founder of Perform, a digital sports media business which he helped turn into a live data and content provider to online betting groups before the business listed in 2011.
In January, Playtech announced that Mattingley would be stepping down as Chair and from the board, but would remain in situ to oversee the appointment process of his successor and ensure an orderly handover.
Mattingley stated: “We are very pleased to welcome John to our Board as a new Non-executive Director and Chairman Elect.
“John’s significant experience and knowledge will be a tremendous asset for Playtech as it continues its transformation into a predominantly pure-play B2B business. I look forward to giving him every support during this period of transition.”
Last month, Playtech published its FY 2024 results, reporting a 5% year-over-year increase in overall revenue to €1.79bn (FY 2023: €1.7bn).
Mor Weizer, CEO of Playtech, said on the results: “2024 was a landmark year for Playtech. We successfully reached an agreement to sell Snaitech to Flutter Entertainment, delivering significant value to our shareholders while enabling Playtech to refocus predominantly on its core strengths as a pure-play B2B business.
“Additionally, we are pleased to have secured a revised strategic agreement with Caliplay, our partner in Mexico, providing greater certainty and a strong foundation for future growth.”
