gaming industry
SUZOHAPP Appoints Jim Kirner as New Sales Director for North America
SUZOHAPP has announced the appointment of Jim Kirner as its new Sales Director for North America.
With over 20 years of experience in the gaming industry, Jim brings a wealth of expertise to his role and will be pivotal in driving SUZOHAPP’s sales and product strategies across the region.
Throughout his career, Jim has been instrumental in driving transformational changes in the gaming sector, helping companies innovate and enhance the player experience. In the past, he directly worked on driving the adoption of Ticket-In, Ticket-Out (TITO) systems from the ground up and he played a critical role in the development of bonusing software solutions, as well as strategic accounts initiatives. His extensive experience spans a wide range of gaming sectors, including electronic table games, cash access services, ticket redemption kiosks, and slot machine sales at both the property and corporate levels. Prior to joining SUZOHAPP, Jim held key leadership positions at IGT, DiTRONICS, Interblock, and Aruze Gaming Global.
“I’m excited to join SUZOHAPP and leverage my experience to help drive growth and innovation across North America. Our industry is evolving rapidly, and I look forward to working closely with our talented team to deliver cutting-edge solutions that meet the evolving needs of our customers while enhancing the gaming experience for players everywhere,” said Jim Kirner.
“Jim’s extensive background and in-depth understanding of SUZOHAPP’s customer base will be invaluable in refining our sales and product strategy. We are confident that his leadership and industry knowledge will be crucial to our continued success in North America, and we look forward to his contributions in strengthening relationships with customers and partners across the region,” said Geoff Mc Dowell, President of SUZOHAPP.
The post SUZOHAPP Appoints Jim Kirner as New Sales Director for North America appeared first on Gaming and Gambling Industry in the Americas.
IGT announced that Mark Wadley has joined the company as IGT’s Incoming President of Land-Based Gaming, subject to receipt of all required regulatory approvals.
Prior to joining IGT, Wadley served as chief marketing officer of one of IGT’s global competitors. He has a proven track record of driving growth by aligning product, customer, and commercial execution. As IGT Incoming President of Land-Based Gaming, Wadley will lead IGT’s end-to-end land-based Gaming business, including global sales, product management, field services, manufacturing, marketing, external communications, and government relations. He will report to IGT CEO Hector Fernandez.
“Mark is a proven leader with a deep understanding of how to connect product, customer insight and commercial execution to drive performance. As we continue to strengthen our Gaming business, bringing these capabilities together under one leader is a critical step in improving how we operate and deliver for our customers. Mark’s experience will help us accelerate that progress,” said Hector Fernandez, CEO of IGT.
“IGT has all the core elements of a winning gaming business, from differentiated content to global scale and long-standing customer relationships. The opportunity now is to operate with greater alignment and discipline, ensuring that how we develop, position, and deliver our products translates more consistently into performance for our customers. That focus on execution will define the next phase of growth,” said Mark Wadley, IGT Incoming President of Land-Based Gaming.
Drawing on a successful career spanning both the gaming and biotech industries, Mark Wadley is known for infusing teams with energy, fostering innovation, and delivering results in fast-paced markets. His unique cross-industry perspective enables him to build high-performing teams, balance core strengths with new growth opportunities, and implement strategies that drive both immediate impact and long-term success. A champion of collaboration and team achievement, Mark is dedicated to translating innovative strategies into winning outcomes while building the “go-to” place for talent and culture in the gaming industry.
The post IGT Appoints Mark Wadley Incoming President of Land-Based Gaming appeared first on Americas iGaming & Sports Betting News.
Behind The Gloves has formed an official Advisory Board as it moves from event-led activations to what it describes as a scalable, long-term business and community.
The board includes Michael Brady, Founder and Chairman of Bede Gaming and Chairman of Connexus Group; Rob Fell, CEO of RiskCherry; and Katie Byers, former SVP of People and Capability at Light & Wonder.
According to the organisation, the appointments are intended to support expansion into new verticals including corporate wellness programmes, brand partnerships and future digital products.
Behind The Gloves said it plans to continue operating as a “business for good” by reinvesting a portion of profits into community initiatives and charitable causes.
Lee McFarland, Founder of Behind The Gloves, said: “The foundation of our Advisory Board reflects Behind The Gloves’ commitment to building a strong business that can expand globally and reach more people than ever.
“We’re thrilled to welcome Katie, Rob and Michael to the Board and look forward to leveraging our industry’s unmistakable energy to support good causes and deliver accessible activities for all fitness levels on a larger scale.”
The post Behind The Gloves forms Advisory Board to scale beyond event activations appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
The Esports Awards is set to return in 2026, bringing together the global esports community for its annual celebration of excellence.
Scheduled to take place in North America later this year, the awards will honor the top players, teams, creators, and innovators who defined the past year in competitive gaming. Exact dates and venues will be revealed in the coming months.
Last year marked a major milestone for the Esports Awards, celebrating 10 years of esports achievements at the HyperX Arena in Las Vegas. The ceremony recognized industry icons such as Mathieu “Zywoo” Herbaut, iShowSpeed, and Animesh “Thug” Agarwal, while inducting six new members into the Lifetime Achievement in Esports: Class of 2025. Earlier in 2025, the Esports Awards hosted the one-off Decade Awards, which drew a global audience of 36.25 million live viewers.
For the 2026 edition, fan-favorite categories such as Esports Game of the Year, Esports Personality of the Year, Streamer of the Year, and Esports Team of the Year will return, giving fans a direct voice in recognizing the standout moments and figures in esports over the past year. Winners will be determined through a combination of community voting and input from the Esports Awards Panel, which includes seasoned industry veterans, broadcasters, creators, and professional players, ensuring both credibility and integrity.
In addition to the main ceremony, the Esports Awards Golf Invitational will make a comeback, offering a day of networking and friendly competition for industry leaders, creators, and esports competitors ahead of the awards.
Michael Ashford, CEO of the Esports Awards, said: “The Esports Awards continues to shine a spotlight on the very best in esports and gaming, and we’re pleased to return for 2026. Following the success of the Decade Awards and our 10th anniversary celebrations, we look forward to recognizing the individuals, teams, and moments that defined the past year in esports.”
Fans are encouraged to follow the Esports Awards’ official X account for updates on venues, dates, nominees, and voting.
The post Esports Awards 2026 Returns for Global Honors appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
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