PR Lads shuffled; GameAccount Network back Down Under; Betfred poach SIS veteran; Betway

news in brief 200x141UK bookie Ladbrokes has restructured its communications team with Donal McCabe being appointed to head their global comms strategy. PR Week report that McCabe will start in January and the role will see him head up the company’s new Communications Council. It will oversee coordination with the media, investor relations, public affairs, consumer PR, internal communications and brand. Chief executive Richard Glynn stated just how important “effective comms” were “to Ladbrokes realizing its growth ambitions” and it’s believed to be very much a part of the company’s online relaunch.

UK software firm GameAccount Network has dipped its finger into another pie by agreeing to launch Aussie firm Ainsworth’s online content onto its European platforms. The deal is aimed at certain regulated markets in Europe with Italy likely to be the first to benefit from the slot games. That first game will come out in January when the country’s slot market is scheduled to open and if successful, it could hit a number of other markets. Ainsworth CEO Danny Gladstone, speaking during a full year results call, said that it’s the “first step of an expansion strategy to establish a social and online gaming business”. Aristocrat, a bitter rival of Ainsworth in the Australian slots arena, bought out GAN’s single player internet gaming system and this deal with their rival will quash any rumors of a takeover deal.

Betfred has managed to poach Satellite Information Services (SIS) director of operations Brent Dolan. A release from SIS claimed that Fred Done head-hunted the long-time employee for a role that will be focused on the Tote and see him working on racecourses. Dolan spent 26 years with SIS and it saw him work in a number of different positions across the company.

Betway have appointed Bob Dutnall as executive director of their new operational base in Guernsey. Dutnall joins up after leaving his role as Sportingbet’s MD of European operations and in Guernsey he’ll be responsible for overseeing marketing including customer acquisition and administration for the company.