OPAP recruits James Curwen to lead new digital strategy

OPAP SA has confirmed the appointment of James Curwen as its new Chief Online Officer, leading the Athens-listed operator’s new digital strategy.

Curwen will replace incumbent Petr Matejovsky, who is set to leave the company after seven years of service leading the Greek national lottery and sports betting operator’s online divisions.

Curwen has over 30 years of career achievements within the gaming industry, holding senior roles at online gaming companies such as William Hill and Superbet, and further executive leadership roles at tier-1 operators such as Ladbrokes.

Announcing its key hire, OPAP noted that Curwen is a “well-respected senior leader with the ability to motivate and develop others to consistently achieve excellence, maintain the highest standards and deliver results”.

Curwen joins OPAP senior leadership team as the Athens-listed company moves to significantly bolster its online gambling portfolio by completing its takeover of Kaizen Gaming’s Stoiximan and Betano brands.

OPAP commented on Matejovsky’s departure from the company, stating: “The company would like to thank Petr for his significant contribution to OPAP’s progress under his roles, as Chief Marketing Officer, Chief Customer Officer and Chief Online Officer, and wish him all the best for his future endeavours.”

Last month, OPAP published its financial results for the first quarter of 2021, with CEO Jan Karas noting a record quarter for online revenue while retail revenue continues to be affected by the pandemic.