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Allwyn has named Naida Buljugic as its Global Chief People and Culture Officer, the first time such a position has been filled at the pan-European lottery operator.
Buljugic’s primary remit will be to shape the ‘people agenda’ of the group going forward, which will include spearheading global initiatives to attract and retain talent and coordinate a global culture programme.
Her appointment comes amid a period of international growth for Allwyn, which has established a substantial foothold across Europe from its headquarters in the Czech Republic.
Buljugic commented: “I could not be more thrilled to be starting this new chapter with Allwyn and to leverage the experience I gained at Casinos Austria and Austrian Lotteries to further progress our global People strategy.
“I have seen Allwyn grow and attract the best talent within the lottery and gaming sector, and I look forward to supporting that talent to thrive and develop at this exciting stage in Allwyn’s journey.”
The new role marks a promotion for Buljugic, who for the past five years has been filling the role of Head of HR at Casinos Austria and Austrian Lotteries for the company.
Austria is one of Allwyn’s key markets, alongside the Czech Republic, Greece and Cyprus and Italy, with the UK soon to join this national mix as the firm prepares itself to take the fourth 10 year National Lottery licence in February next year. To spearhead preparations, Andria Vidler was named CEO of Allwyn UK in July 2023..
As a global firm, Buljugic’s task at Allwyn will be to lead organisational and talent development operations across the breadth of its business, leveraging her past experience in multiple HR roles.
Prior to joining Allwyn’s Austrian business, Buljugic served as UniCredit Group’s Head of CEE HR Corporate & Investment Banking and Private Banking and Group Head of Executive Development and Talent Management, as well as SVP role of Group Head of HR for Risk Management at the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe.
Robert Chvátal, CEO of Allwyn, said: “I’m delighted to welcome Naida into this new role within Allwyn, where she will be at the forefront of our growth and a positive partner for change across our markets.
“She has demonstrated terrific leadership during her time at Casinos Austria and Austrian Lotteries, and in her previous roles at UniCredit and OSCE. This experience, combined with her strong sense of Allwyn’s culture, meant that she was the obvious choice to lead our People and Culture strategy, globally.
“I look forward to working with her, as we continue to develop world-class talent across our markets for a world-leading lottery.”
