GGRAsia – Aristocrat creates CEO for land based, Matt Wilson departs

Aristocrat creates CEO for land based, Matt Wilson departs

Jul 01, 2019 Newsdesk Industry Talk, Latest News, Top of the deck, World

A senior management reshuffle at the group of companies forming the slot machine brand Aristocrat has seen Mitchell Bowen promoted to a new role bringing under his leadership all work serving land-based casinos across the world.

Mr Bowen becomes “chief executive land based” responsible for all of Aristocrat’s regulated gaming businesses worldwide, said a Friday press release issued via the United States.

In other developments, Matt Wilson, a veteran of the Macau market who was most recently president and managing director of Aristocrat Americas, has “accepted a role outside Aristocrat and departed the company,” added the release. Mr Wilson had joined the Aristocrat group in 2004. He had been appointed managing director, Americas, at the start of 2017.

Hector Fernandez, previously chief financial officer for Americas, has been appointed president of Aristocrat Americas – succeeding Mr Wilson – and reporting directly to Mr Bowen. “These appointments are effective immediately, subject to any necessary regulatory approvals,” said Friday’s announcement.

Trevor Croker, CEO and president of Aristocrat Group Ltd, was quoted saying in a prepared statement contained in the reshuffle announcement: “The creation of a single global land-based business is the right step to take at this time.”

Mr Croker added the reshuffle would “facilitate thorough and coordinated delivery of transformation and growth projects” across the group’s regional teams, “along with more integrated product and technology strategy and seamless execution.”

The move would also help the group “more effectively serve an increasing number of global customers” and position the business for “its next phase of growth”.

Mr Croker described Mr Bowen as a “first-class and deeply-respected global gaming leader” who had more than 15 years of experience across senior roles in product marketing, commercial activities and “transformation” work at Aristocrat.

The group CEO added Mr Bowen had not only spent several years working in the Americas, but also worked closely with him “leading in the turnaround of the Australia and New Zealand business”.

The Australian slot-machine maker Aristocrat Leisure Ltd reported a normalised net profit after tax and amortisation in its financial first half ended March of AUD422.3 million (US$290.05 million), a 16.8-percent increase in year-on-year terms.

Mr Croker said of Mr Fernandez’ new role: “I’m delighted to have the opportunity to elevate a leader of Hector’s calibre to lead our Americas land-based business.”