PEOPLE
David Orrick is flanked by Simon Thomas , the son of Jimmy Thomas , and Ian Moore
DAVID ORRICK RECEIVES EUROPEAN CASINO AWARD
David Orrick , director of industry relations at
Merkur Gaming , has been an established name in the international gaming industry for close to 30 years . Now he has been honored for his many years of service at the European Casino Awards ceremony in the Grand Connaught Rooms in London ’ s Covent Garden . In February , he received the Jimmy Thomas Outstanding Contribution Award .
“ This award means a lot to me . Any recognition from within the industry in which one is privileged to work is a great honor and particularly so in this case as it reflects on long service throughout the companies that I have worked with during my time in the industry ,” said Orrick after the award ceremony .
The European Casino Awards honor products , services , operators and personalities of the European casino industry in 21 categories . The award ceremony is organized by Datateam Business Media , publisher of Casino International .
A British citizen , Orrick is a true veteran of the international entertainment industry . Over the past decades , he has worked for numerous renowned gaming companies . Since January 2016 , he has been contributing as director of industry relations to the steadily growing success of Merkur Gaming , the international development and sales brand of the German Gauselmann Group .
“ David is an industry professional who knows and understands the world of gaming and its protagonists like no other ,” said Athanasios “ Sakis ” Isaakidis , chief executive international at Merkur Gaming . “ His expertise , professionalism and commitment are highly respected both within and beyond Merkur Gaming by industry and media representatives around the world .
“ We are thrilled for him to have received this special award ; it is an important acknowledgement of his contribution to the industry — which in David ’ s case has always been more of a passion than work .”
The award presented to Orrick bears the name of one of the best-known icons of the British leisure and gaming industry . Jimmy Thomas , who died last August , led the industry from the front for over 70 years . As well as founding the company Automatics Co . Ltd ., the crowning achievement of his career was acquiring the multi-award-winning Hippodrome Casino leisure center in the heart of London .
CAROLYN KIDD APPOINTED CHIEF RISK OFFICER AT SKYCITY
SkyCity Entertainment
Group has announced the appointment of Carolyn Kidd to the newly established role of chief risk officer , effective April 1 , subject to necessary regulatory approvals .
Kidd is an experienced risk executive with an extensive career in the banking and finance industry — her most recent role being chief risk officer at Westpac New Zealand from February 2016 to June 2022 .
Prior to this , Kidd held a number of senior risk roles across Australia and New Zealand , including chief risk officer at Bankwest ( Commonwealth Bank of Australia ), chief risk officer at Sovereign Assurance , and chief credit officer , acting chief risk officer and head of credit risk management at ASB Bank Limited .
TED CHAN APPOINTED GALAXY CFO ; MIKE MECCA RETURNS AS DIRECTOR
Galaxy Entertainment
Group ( GEG ) announced last month that Robert Drake will exit his role as chief financial officer of the company effective March 1 , to be replaced by Ted Chan , formerly chief operating officer of the group ’ s Japan development division .
Carolyn Kidd
Ted Chan
GEG issued a statement saying Drake is leaving to “ pursue his personal interests .”
Drake had worked with GEG for more than 15 years , most recently helping the group navigate the Covid-19 pandemic and helping it secure a second gaming concession . The 10-year concession began January 1 .
Chan initially joined GEG in 2018 , as COO of the Japan development arm , having previously served as the COO of Melco , before resigning in 2016 for “ personal reasons .” Before that , Chan worked at a unit of the Amax group , which operated VIP gaming services in Macau .
Drake will now serve as a senior adviser to the company . GEG Vice Chairman Francis Lui said , “ I look forward to continuing our relationship with Bob .”
Also last month , GEG announced that former senior Mike Mecca executive and current board member Michael Mecca has been redesignated from a non-executive director to an independent non-executive director . The change took effect on March 1 .
Mecca was the company ’ s president and chief operating officer before his April 2018 retirement . Following a four-year “ cooling-off period ,” he is now eligible to serve in his new capacity , GEG stated .
GRANT EVE TO HEAD TRIBAL GAMING FOR WIPFLI
Wipfli partner Grant Eve has been named tribal industry leader . Eve is a recognized leader in the tribal government and gaming industries and has assisted clients in large casino operations , online gaming , changes in gaming operations ( both tribal and commercial ), technology solutions and more .
He has worked with tribal gaming organizations and commercial casinos throughout multiple jurisdictions and has testified before the U . S . Senate Committee on Indian Affairs regarding gaming-related issues .
Eve is the vice chair and in his second term on Wipfli ’ s board of directors , which is an elected ninemember strategic governing body of the firm .
GGB
Grant Eve
April 2023 Index of Advertisers
AGEM . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27 AGS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 Aristocrat Gaming . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 56 Axes . ai . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 Casino Player Media . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45 Everi . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 Fantini Research . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51 Global Gaming Business . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39 , 49 GGB Casino Style magazine . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47 GGB P3 magazine . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43 Good Giant ( Red Square Agency ) . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 Incredible Technologies . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 J Carcamo & Associates . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35 Playtech Ltd . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17 Reed Expo ( RX ) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23 SlotCycle LLC . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 55 Western Alliance Bank . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31 Zitro International . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
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