LeoVegas hunts for new chairman as Mårten Forste takes COO role

Stockholm-listed LeoVegas AB has confirmed that Mårten Forste, current Chairman of the Board, will take the position of Group COO to oversee ‘overarching responsibilities’ of the firm’s Maltese operations.

The appointment will see Forste maintain his Chairman role until LeoVegas’ next AGM planned for May 2020, where the firm’s Nominations Committee will announce a new corporate governance leader.

Forste has served as LeoVegas chairman since 2017, having acted as a LeoVegas corporate advisor since the online gambling group’s inception in 2011.

An expert in executing digital strategies and managing growth for large scale enterprises, Forste is the former COO of Match.com, where he oversaw operations for flagship dating properties Match, Meetic and Tinder.

“After having served on the Board since 2012, I am proud to join LeoVegas’ operations team,” he said. “The gaming market is dynamic, and I am convinced that we are in the best possible place to further strengthen our position as market leader in the casino segment.

“I look forward to working further on the course charted by the management team, creating shareholder value and continuing to take market shares by delivering a safe, sustainable and entertaining customer experience.“

LeoVegas also confirmed that current Group COO Richard Woodbridge had accepted an offer to join another industry and will leave the firm’s executive team at the end of May.

Gustaf Hagman, Group CEO, said: “It is truly unfortunate to lose such an ambitious and talented person as Richard Woodbridge. He is highly appreciated in the company, and I wish him success in the future. Mårten is the perfect successor, as he has been with LeoVegas from the start and is a strong contributing force behind our strategy and operations.

“He has good knowledge about all parts of LeoVegas and our culture, and he knows what we need to do to further develop the company and be ‘King of Casino’. His experience clearly makes him the right person to further build upon what Richard has started.”