NEXT.io Podcast

Neal Garman was appointed CTO of iSoftBet in June 2020. Neal has transformation and growth experience within Technology businesses, involved in two IPOs. He previously led technology functions in MoneySuperMarket, FinTech [CashPlus], Metropolitan Police, DEFRA, and Helios Towers. Neal is passionate about delivering scalable, ‘next generation’, data-driven technology, where throughput and resilience are critical. A focus on understanding a business's core purpose, growing its people, and creating technology that is considered an asset.

Pini co-founded Optimove, the iGaming industry standard for CRM Marketing, in 2009 and has led the company as its CEO since its inception. Throughout the years, Pini has collaborated with hundreds of iGaming operators, platforms, and consultants to shape the industry’s CRM practices, navigate its challenges, and build a product tailored for it. With two decades of experience in analytics-driven CRM Marketing, business consulting, and sales in the iGaming space, Pini is the driving force behind Optimove. His passion for innovative and empowering technologies is what keeps Optimove ahead of the curve. Today, Optimove is used by 1 of 3 EGR Power 50 operators, including Entain, Gamesys Group, Fortuna, Lottoland and others, to increase player retention, loyalty and LTV.

My name is Disa Stigh and I'm one of those Millennials who believe I can change iGaming. The iGaming career really took off after I won iGaming Idol as ''Live Dealer of the year'' a few years ago. After I spent hundreds of hours in the Live studio at Evolution Gaming in Malta, I decided I needed to accelerate and grasp the knowledge of our iGaming industry from all verticals. By taking a big step from being a Live Dealer to Affiliate Manager, I had big shoes to fill and a new world to comprehend. Since networking and standing out in the crowd has been key for me during all these years in iGaming, I've been able to grow in a natural way from Live Dealer to CCO and Co-founder of Casino By Her. Panel discussions, speaking at conferences and gaining knowledge from well-experienced and innovative fellow industry colleagues, have been giving me the great comfort I need to trust my own ability through my career and personal life.

✌️Pierre’s iGaming NEXT Podcast main sponsor is Pragmatic Solutions – Leading iGaming platform technology. For more info, click here: https://bit.ly/3lSy1B5. This podcast is also sponsored by Kalamba & Bitcasino   🧐Julian is co-founder of RB Capital. He is an investor & board director to multiple ventures in the gaming, fintech & music industries. He has managed investments, M&As and exits to date in excess of $500m.

Gustaf Hagman Birth: 1974 Title: Group CEO and Co-founder Special areas of expertise: Gaming industry, organisation, entrepreneur Education: Economics studies at Stockholm University and Södertörn University. Gustaf has over 20 years of experience in entrepreneurship and the online gaming industry and has previously built organizations to over 100 employees. Before he co-founded LeoVegas, Gustaf was CEO of the listed company Net Gaming AB (publ.). He also founded and was CEO of Eurobet Nordic AB. As the group's CEO Gustaf works with the company's strategy and planning. It is his duty to lead the company and to handle stock market-related questions and to ensure that LeoVegas achieves the goals that the board and the owners have set up. Robin Ramm - Ericson Birth: 1975 Title: Co-founder of LeoVegas Mobile Gaming Group. Previous Chairman of the Board and CXO Special areas of expertise: Strategy, product innovation and development, company formations and marketing. Entrepreneur. Education: M.Sc. Business and Economics, Stockholm School of Economics and Stanford University Entrepreneur, free diver and a passionate tech investor. One of the two co-founders of LeoVegas Mobile Gaming Group representing a strong strategic vision, operational drive and innovation lead. As Chairman of the Board and CXO, together with his co-founder Gustaf, taking the company on the journey from initial idea to IPO and Sweden’s 8th unicorn company. Prior to LeoVegas Robin held multiple CEO and head of product development positions at gaming and tech companies. His combination of strategic clarity, operational talent and ability to inspire is unique. Robin is also a respected tech investor based in Stockholm, Sweden.

Daniel Graetzer is the Founder and CEO of Carousel Group, the owner and operator of SportsBetting.com, a US and European regulated online sportsbook and casino. With over 20 years of experience in digital, Graetzer created Carousel Group in 2017 after previously serving as director at leading Spanish provider Mediatech Solutions (acquired by R. Franco Group in 2017). Carousel Group is operational in Colorado and recently signed a market access deal for New Jersey, Indiana, and Iowa.

After his studies in Frankfurt and at Stanford University, Nico joined the IT department of Investment Banking of Commerzbank in Frankfurt and London. Being familiar with the demand for Real Time data in the finance industry and having a passion for Sports and Sports Betting, Nico left Commerzbank in 2012 to start Bet IT Best as a State of the Art and One Stop Shop for the Sports Betting industry. In 2015 Bet IT Best received a seat at the Web Summit Alpha program for one of the most promising overall IT startups and in 2016 Bet IT Best received the "Highly Commended" seal in the "Innovation in Affiliation – Best New Affiliate Product" category from the well-known Sports Betting Community SBC. In 2017 Bet IT Best gained the first ever Sports Betting Broker License handed out from Malta Gaming Authority. Although freshly entering the industry in 2012, Nico has been a reputable and highly respected speaker at different and various industry events (iGB, SBC, WGES for 5 years in a row etc.) as an Expert for Compliance, the German Market, Innovation and IT trends (mainly mobile focus).

Ken is the VP of Operations for Hotjar, a Malta-based start-up with over 150 remote team members currently distributed across 32 countries. Ken oversees People Operations, Finance, and Compliance at Hotjar. He is also a digital nomad and has been travelling the globe with his family for almost 7 years. Prior to his travels, Ken held leadership positions in traditional corporate environments where he gained great experience but was tied to his desk. He relishes and advocates for life “outside the cube”.

At GiG James is responsible for providing leadership and management on the delivery of sales objectives around the globe (managing both the sales and marketing teams). James has over 11 years’ experience in sales from the front line through to Group Sales Director (Clarion Gaming) leading all aspects of sales excellence driving revenue growth initiatives globally. He has successfully led and managed sales teams of varying report sizes across a mixture of businesses ranging from events through to publishing and digital with focusses on b2b technology (software), operations, and media within iGaming.

At GiG James is responsible for providing leadership and management on the delivery of sales objectives around the globe (managing both the sales and marketing teams). James has over 11 years’ experience in sales from the front line through to Group Sales Director (Clarion Gaming) leading all aspects of sales excellence driving revenue growth initiatives globally. He has successfully led and managed sales teams of varying report sizes across a mixture of businesses ranging from events through to publishing and digital with focusses on b2b technology (software), operations, and media within iGaming.