TOP EXECUTIVE MOVES AT PARTY GAMING

16 May 2008

Experienced executive Jim Ryan to succeed Mitch Garber


Highly experienced online gambling industry executive Jim Ryan (46), who has occupied top positions with St Minver, Excapsa and Cryptologic, will be the new mover and shaker at Party Gaming, taking over as CEO from Mitch Garber when the latter departs the company later this year.

Speculation that Chief Games Officer John O'Malia would be in line for a promotion was also vindicated with the announcement that he would take up responsiblities in a newly created post of group managing director on May 16. The new post is charged with the daily management of the group, and O'Malia will have a seat on the Board. He will combine his new m.d. role with that of acting CEO until Ryan takes up his appointment.

Garber's intention to depart the company and return to his native Canada was announced in March (see previous InfoPowa report) He will remain as "part of the handover process" until the end of July 2008.

Ryan has 22 years of experience in the Internet gaming and technology fields. He was previously CEO of St. Minver Limited, the largest operator of European white label gaming networks. Prior to that he was President and CEO of Excapsa Software, an internet gaming software developer whose licensees included UltimateBet, and Chief Financial Officer of industry leading turnkey provider Cryptologic, Inc.

O'Malia (38) joined PartyGaming in August 2006 as its Chief Games Officer, following its acquisition of Gamebookers, an online sports betting business, where he served as CEO.

Other executive floor changes include the departure in around four month's time of current non-executive chairman Michael Jackson, whose successor is not yet known. Jackson commented that Ryan had been chosen after "...a rigorous search and selection process that considered a broad range of candidates."

"Jim's experience, coupled with John O'Malia's proven success in managing PartyGaming's profitability enhancements over the past year, will be a powerful combination in driving the company forward and continuing to enhance the value and appeal of PartyGaming's brands and gaming products," Jackson added.

Ryan said: "I am hugely excited by the scale of the opportunity and with the support of PartyGaming' s board and management team, I am confident we have an exciting and prosperous future."

Online Casino News courtesy of InfoPowa