NEXT.io Podcast

Andy is PwC’s esports industry leader across their global network. Andy helps organizations navigate through a fast-growing, global, emerging market; providing insights and expertise across a complex ecosystem. With 19+ years of experience at PwC UK, across a wide range of industries, and leading the global firm's activity in the esports sector for the last 4 years. Andy built an extensive external network, across teams, leagues, publishers, organizers, platforms, and brands. Having worked closely with many esports organizations helping them develop strategies to improve global reach, brand awareness, and meet growth targets; as well as help with capital raises.

Mr. Rafael (Rafi) Ashkenazi, is a former The Stars Group CEO and a future Executive Chairman of Hard Rock Digital. Previously a Playtech COO, he joined the Rational Group in 2013 and had been with the company that eventually became known as The Stars Group for seven years. Taking over as CEO in 2016, Rafi is widely recognized to have played an integral role in the business leaving an incredible footprint on all it's aspects. Mr. Ashkenazi, who initially joined Stars Interactive Group in January 2013 as Chief Operating Officer, is an experienced gaming industry executive who previously served as Chief Operating Officer of Playtech plc (LSE: PTEC), a global gaming software development company (Playtech), from January 2006 to January 2010 and then from September 2011 to January 2013, and as a member of the board of directors of Playtech from March 2006 to January 2010. From January 2010 to September 2011, Mr. Ashkenazi served as Vice President of Business Operations of Playtech. He was appointed Senior Vice President of Strategy for The Stars Group in April 2015, Chief Executive Officer of Stars Interactive Group in November 2015, Interim Chief Executive Officer of The Stars Group in March 2016 and then permanent Chief Executive Officer of The Stars Group in November 2016. Mr. Ashkenazi graduated with honors from Shenkar College in Israel where he earned a B.A. in Industrial Engineering.

Ben oversees the Commercial team at GiG, with responsibility for commercial agreements with our various suppliers and pricing models for GiG’s ever-expanding product range. His background is casino management, including MGM in Las Vegas, and Head of Casino Operations for Nordic Gaming Group. Ben joined GiG in 2013, as Head of Casino Operations and co-founder of Guts, and progressed to Managing Director of iGaming Cloud (a vertical in GiG now called GiG Core) in 2016, and was announced as CCO in late 2017.

Robert Andersson is a passionate company builder with 18 years in leading positions with a great network in the Swedish and Baltic investment community. Focus on Business Development, marketing, strategic and organizational planning in the areas of Media, Games, and Product Development.

Sergey became Chief Executive Officer of Parimatch Holding in 2015. He has transformed the Company from a bookmaker trading out of physical stores into an innovative online technology business and internationally recognized lifestyle brand. Sergey has restructured the Company and transformed critical operational and business processes, leading to the Company's vigorous growth and performance. As CEO, Sergey's primary responsibilities at Parimatch include the development and implementation of high-level strategy, managing overall trading operations and resources as well as acting as the contact between the board of directors and the wider business. Under his leadership, Parimatch has become a unified team with shared values of integrity and responsibility.

Björn started as a management trainee to Pontus Lindwall more than 20 years ago. Since then he has been committed to the industry and worked in various capacities with betting, trading, poker, and casino in both b2b and b2c businesses of various sizes. A serial entrepreneur that launched Triggy with two colleagues in 2017.

Oisin Lunny is an award-winning marketer, webinar and podcast host, MC, public speaker, virtual event consultant, and journalist. His work has been read over half a million times as a senior contributor to Forbes, The Guardian, and others. Oisin has spoken at over 250 conferences in every corner of the world, including TEDx and six times at SXSW, and he has worked in a series of leading global technology firms over the past 20 years.

Paris Smith’s career in online gaming spans more than two decades, which includes more than 12 years as CEO of Pinnacle (www.pinnacle.com), one of the world’s most respected online bookmakers. Paris’ unmatched understanding of the online gaming business has led to her advising governments to develop regulatory frameworks, as well as working closely with key industry service providers.

Ulrik Bengtsson was appointed CEO of WilliamHILL on 30 September 2019, having been appointed CEO Designate on 5 September 2019. He had joined the Group as Chief Digital Officer and a member of the Group Executive Committee in April 2018. Ulrik was previously President and Chief Executive of Betsson Group, the Stockholm listed betting and gaming company that operates via gaming licences in 11 countries across Europe and Central Asia, until stepping down in September 2017. Ulrik has a B.Comm. from Dalhousie University in Canada, where he also played varsity ice-hockey. He is a fan of Chelsea FC.

Kresimir Spajic is Senior Vice President of Online Gaming for Hard Rock International. Spajic is responsible for leading the vision, strategy and operational execution behind the brand’s investment across interactive gaming platforms. Spajic is instrumental in securing new strategic partnerships and future opportunities to further position Hard Rock Hotels & Casinos as a global leader in the international and online gaming spaces. Spajic holds a multidisciplinary graduate degree in management, law and humanities from SDA Bocconi School of Management (Italy), University of Neuchâtel (Switzerland) and De Montfort University (England). He is based in Hollywood, Fla., at the Hard Rock International headquarters.