Scientific Games plans to name former Aristocrat Technologies Executive Matt Wilson as CEO of the gaming division next year.
A source with direct knowledge of the matter said Monday that Wilson, the former managing director and CEO of Aristocrat’s Americas division, will assume the title and position after the expiration of his non-compete clause. Wilson left Aristocrat on Friday.
Wilson, who oversaw much of the U.S. growth of Aristocrat in the past few years, will report to Scientific Games CEO Barry Cottle, the source said.
Derik Mooberry will continue to lead the gaming group until Wilson can come on board. Mooberry will then transition into a senior advisory role to the gaming group.
Siobhan Lane, who recently served as Aristocrat’s Senior Vice President, Marketing & Gaming Operations, Americas will also be joining Scientific Games next year.
Scientific Games announced the hire internally last week, according to the source.
On Friday, Aristocrat announced that Mitchell Bowen had been named the company’s new CEO of land-based operations and that Hector Fernandez was appointed president of Aristocrat Americas. Wilson “had accepted a new role outside Aristocrat and departed the company,” according to the statement.
Cottle said in a statement Monday the company was “thrilled” to bring on Wilson and Lane.
“This is yet another huge step forward as we continue to assemble the best talent in our industry,” Cottle said. “Our current offering of world class products and services are gaining tremendous traction with customers, players and top talent. These appointments build on our momentum as we continue to lead our industry in to the future.”
Scientific Games, Aristocrat, and International Game Technology are considered the three largest slot machine providers in the gaming industry.
In December, under Wilson’s direction. Aristocrat consolidated its North American headquarters from five separate buildings spread across Las Vegas into an 180,000-square-foot facility on a 12-acre campus in the Summerlin area.
The addition is the latest move by the Scientific Games in the past few months. In May, Former Aristocrat Leisure Ltd. CEO Jamie Odell joined the company as a special advisor to the gaming equipment provider’s chairman and CEO, Ronald Perelman.
Last month, Perelman spent $6.1 million to acquire additional shares of Scientific Games.
Through his New York-based MacAndrews & Forbes investment arm, Perelman controls more than 36.4 million shares of Scientific Games, or almost 40 percent of the company, which provides gaming equipment to both the casino industry and lotteries worldwide.
Howard Stutz is the executive editor of CDC Gaming. He can be reached at hstutz@cdcgamingreports.com. Follow @howardstutz on Twitter.
