Playtech plc (LON:PTEC) is pleased to announce the appointments of Anna Massion and John Krumins to its Board as Independent Non-Executive Directors, with immediate effect.
The appointments are the result of an extensive process whereby the Chairman and Board engaged professional search consultants to identify high quality individuals with the requisite skillset. In order to continue the development of the Board the brief was to identify independent candidates that would offer complementary leadership and experience in high growth digital, data-led industries, corporate finance and fiscal management, expertise and connections in regulation and a global business network.
As part of its engagement with shareholders regarding the appointment of new directors, Playtech consulted with SpringOwl Asset Management LLC, which has fully endorsed both candidates. The Company worked with institutional shareholders including SpringOwl to identify candidates that would strengthen the corporate governance profile of the Group and deliver the oversight and strategic counsel required for a global organisation such as Playtech.
Appointment of Anna Massion
Anna Massion has been working in Investment Banking and Asset Management for over 15 years and is widely respected as a global gambling industry expert. Based in the US, Anna’s sector knowledge and business network reaches beyond North America and she will bring a strong fiscal and analytical skillset to the Board. Anna joined PAR Capital Management, which has over $5 billion in assets under management, in 2014, where she is responsible for idea generation and portfolio maintenance.
Prior to joining PAR Capital Management, Anna held positions at leading financial institutions including JP Morgan, Marathon Asset Management and Hedgeye Risk Management.
Since 2014, Anna has been an investor in the gambling sector across the UK, US and Europe, with an impressive investment track record of returns. She has a history of having constructive dialogue with her portfolio companies and has also provided strategic advice to the existing Playtech management team over the years.
Appointment of John Krumins
John Krumins brings over 20 years’ experience in corporate finance, technology and complex project management. He spent nearly 15 years at Morgan Stanley as a Managing Director and subsequently worked at both Deutsche Bank and Société Générale. He is currently the Chairman of Wavex Technology Ltd, which provides IT services support and business service management products to SMEs. He holds an MBA from the Harvard Business School. John’s significant non-executive experience also includes his current role as an Independent Non-Executive Director of OrganOx Ltd, his role as a Trustee at Big Education Trust and acting as Finance Committee Chairman & Trustee of the Royal Institution of Great Britain.
Beyond his current role at Wavex, John has extensive experience of advising companies involved in technology and data analytics including both Hogg Robinson Group PLC, (2016-2018) and Intent HQ (2013-2016) where he was a Non-Executive Director. John also brings noteworthy regulatory experience from his previous role as a panel member of the UK’s Competition and Markets Authority from 2013 to 2018.
Since the Company’s last Annual General Meeting, Playtech Chairman, Alan Jackson has overseen a significant evolution of the Company’s Board. The two appointments announced today follow the appointments Playtech made in August 2018 and September 2018 of two further Independent Non-Executive Directors and are all part of Playtech’s ongoing board succession planning.
Alan Jackson, Chairman of Playtech plc, said:
“I am delighted to have identified two candidates of the calibre of Anna and John and warmly welcome them to the Playtech Board. John’s extensive Board-level experience, coupled with Anna’s deep sector knowledge, will allow the Board to support Playtech’s role as the leading gambling technology company in regulated markets.
“Our industries continue to develop at pace, and today’s appointments mark another step forward in the evolution of the Playtech Board. I will be working closely with everyone involved in Playtech to get the new Board members up to speed as we continue to plan for the future.”
