Leadership positions at two major slot manufacturers changed last month, and the changes were related.
Australian slot giant Aristocrat Leisure Ltd. announced major changes in its leadership with respect to products for all its land-based global markets, creating a new global CEO, land based position and new leadership in the Americas.
Mitchell Bowen (l.) has been appointed to the newly created position of global CEO, land based, responsible for all of Aristocrat’s regulated gaming businesses worldwide, while Hector Fernandez, CFO, Americas, has been promoted to president, Aristocrat Americas, reporting directly to Bowen. Fernandez assumes the role vacated by former Managing Director-Americas Matt Wilson.
The appointments are effective immediately, subject to any necessary regulatory approvals.
Aristocrat Group Ltd. CEO & President Trevor Croker says the changes were institutional.
“The creation of a single global land-based business is the right step to take at this time,” said Croker. “It will facilitate thorough and coordinated delivery of transformation and growth projects across our regional teams, along with more integrated product and technology strategy and seamless execution. Bringing together our land-based operations also positions us to more effectively serve an increasing number of global customers and sets the business up for its next phase of growth.”
In a related move, Matt Wilson (l.), who left his position at Aristocrat, will join rival Scientific Games Corp. next year as group chief executive of the Gaming Division. Wilson will report directly to Scientific Games CEO Barry Cottle, who commented in a statement that the company is thrilled to welcome the former Aristocrat exec.
Wilson drove the growth of Aristocrat’s product line over the past few years, including directing the consolidation of the supplier’s Las Vegas headquarters in a new 18,000-square-foot headquarters facility in the Summerlin suburb.
Wilson will replace longtime Scientific Games executive Derik Mooberry as head of the company’s Gaming Division. Mooberry will stay on as group CEO of the division until Wilson’s arrival, after which he will transition into a “senior advisory role” with the Gaming Division.
Wilson brings with him Siobhan Lane, who had been Aristocrat’s senior vice president of marketing and gaming operations. In May, SG hired Jamie Odell, former CEO of Aristocrat Leisure Ltd., as a special adviser to Cottle and company Chairman Ronald Perelman.
