The CFO of Aristocrat Technologies withdrew his application Thursday for licensing before the Nevada Gaming Commission after he accepted his new role as CFO with mobile-esports platform Skillz.
Skillz announced the appointment of Robert Walsh on Wednesday, effective July 13. He’ll succeed Gaetano Franceschi in what was reported as a move by the company to shift toward high-value users and improved profitability. Franceschi will remain with the company in an advisory role through the end of September to assist with the transition.
Two weeks ago, the Nevada Gaming Control Board recommended Walsh be approved for licensing with Aristocrat. The Commission was alerted by the company’s gaming counsel during Thursday’s meeting that he found out only the day before that Walsh had accepted another position. Walsh had served as Aristocrat Technologies CFO since December 2024.
The Skillz board of directors approved the appointment May 17, according to a company filing with the SEC.
Marketwatch reported that Walsh, 41, takes the helm at a pivotal time for the mobile gaming company, which has posted a year-to-date return of 67% despite ongoing profitability challenges.
Marketwatch reported the company maintains a market cap of $114 million and “holds more cash than debt on its balance sheet, though it continues burning through cash with negative free cash flow of $70 million over the last twelve months.”
Walsh will receive an annual base salary of $450,000.
Prior to being CFO at Aristocrat, Walsh served as a senior vice president of Finance – American and EMEA at Aristocrat beginning in January 2022. He was head of finance for the Americas at the LEGO Group from 2018 to 2022 and finance director Americas Retail from 2016 to 2018.
Before LEGO, Walsh spent roughly eight years at Procter & Gamble, moving progressively from financial analyst to manufacturing finance to brand finance to FP&A group.
Walsh received his Bachelor of Science in Business Economics from Indiana University, and holds a Master of Business Administration in Finance from Xavier University.
