The gambling industry thrives on having the right leadership, prompting operators and suppliers to continuously seek out top talent. Each week, SBC Americas highlights significant personnel shifts in the North American market.
Polymarket has appointed Travis VanderZanden, a former Vice President at Uber, as its new Chief Growth Officer. This move comes with the company's expansion efforts in the U.S., where it has resumed offering markets on sports and other categories. VanderZanden, who previously served as Chief Operating Officer at Lyft and founded the electric scooter sharing service Bird, will focus on growth and marketing strategy as Polymarket gears up for major upcoming events.
In a LinkedIn post announcing his transition, VanderZanden noted that many people perceive prediction markets primarily through the lens of elections and sports but opined that this represents a limited view of the market's potential. "Shayne Coplan’s built something genuinely rare, and I’m here to help him scale it to the world," he stated.
VanderZanden's hiring follows several notable appointments at Polymarket, including Megan McGrath from Robinhood as Chief Compliance Officer and Paul Jordan from Nasdaq as Chief Risk Officer.
In another significant move, Fiona Power has joined The Unit as Chief Commercial Officer after spending over seven years at FanDuel. Previously in director roles focused on commercial and partnerships, Power will now spearhead the company's international growth efforts from its base in New York City, concentrating on commercial strategy, market analysis, and forging new partnerships. Reflecting on her new role, Power said, "There is a significant opportunity to develop new partnerships, anticipate where the market is heading, and connect The Unit’s capabilities with businesses that can benefit from them."
The Unit co-founder Paddey Casey has emphasized Power's exceptional commercial experience and knowledge of the U.S. gaming market as key assets for the company.
Bally’s Corporation has appointed Tom Pohlman, a veteran of Golden Nugget Atlantic City, as the new president of Bally’s Atlantic City. Pohlman, who has spent the last 15 years leading at Golden Nugget, is set to contribute to Bally’s as it undertakes substantial construction projects in multiple states amid significant financial challenges. "Bally's sits at one of the most recognizable locations in gaming and hospitality… it is a property with deep roots and incredible opportunities ahead," he expressed on LinkedIn.
Internet Vikings has welcomed Nicklas Insulander as its new Chief Operating Officer, effective this October. Insulander, previously the Managing Director at Orange Business, will guide operational strategy for the Swedish digital hosting and cloud provider that supports the online sports betting and iGaming markets in both Europe and North America. Internet Vikings cited Insulander's extensive experience in digital transformation as a valuable asset, particularly as they continue to scale their business.
In Canada, NorthStar Gaming has made several executive changes, confirming Corey Goodman as its permanent CEO after serving in an interim capacity. Following the resignation of CFO Chin Dhushenthen, Ben Powell will assume the role temporarily, and Krisztina Kalla has been named the new Vice President of Compliance. NorthStar operates NorthStar Bets in Ontario and has faced financial difficulties, leading to layoffs and a trading ban on the Toronto Stock Exchange due to missing financial filings.
Finally, EveryMatrix has appointed Jeppe Wienziers Stenbæk as its new AI chief to further integrate artificial intelligence into its casino and betting technology offerings. Stenbæk, who has previously held leadership roles at Inpay and EY Denmark, aims to enhance operational effectiveness through technology. In his own words, Stenbæk emphasized the evolving tools of the trade but reiterated a consistent goal throughout his career: to identify and implement technological solutions that generate genuine value.
