The members of the International Gaming Standards Association (IGSA) have announced that Mark Pace will succeed Peter DeRaedt as the group’s new president.
A gaming industry veteran of more than 35 years, Pace has been part of IGSA for 20-plus years, previously acting as committee chairman, board member, treasurer and vice chairman, as well as managing director of GSA Europe. Pace will continue in the latter role.
The board of directors has chosen Nimish Purohit, vice president of product resilience for Aristocrat Gaming, as its chairman; Martin Pedak, director of technical compliance for Playtech, as its vice chairman; and Paul Burns of ALC as its treasurer, along with members Syed Hussain, chief information officer of the Oregon Lottery; and Keshav Pitani, vice president of research and development for Light & Wonder.
“On behalf of the entire management team I would like to congratulate and thank our elected 2024 board members,” Pace said, and added that he is “deeply honored to take over from our longtime President Peter DeRaedt, who has graciously agreed to remain a part of the association providing advice whenever needed.”
Board and members will “identify areas and set up committees to create standards and best practices in support of our industry’s needs,” he said.
Pace cited Nimish’s background as a former U.S. federal and state gaming regulator as well as his experience on the commercial side, which gives him “the ability to understand issues holistically as he leads the board. We are equally excited that (Pedak) has stepped up to the vice chair role. Our focus this year is going to be on identifying where the creation of standards and best practices, especially as they relate to new technologies, can add value to our members and benefit the industry as a whole.
“We will also seek to strengthen our collaboration with other industry associations and with worldwide regulatory associations to define how these technologies should be implemented, utilized, and regulated. The board and IGSA are well poised to deliver exceptional results.”
“I am honored and excited to represent IGSA’s global membership,” Purohit said. “Our industry is transforming rapidly across both the online and land-based space. The need for standards and best practices to align with regulated products is vital now, more than ever. I look forward to IGSA continuing to work with regulatory authorities whose challenges I understand well to help deliver solutions that drive efficiency, transparency and enhance gaming integrity.”
He thanked outgoing Chairman Earle Hall for “his transformative leadership and board of directors participation across the past four years. We appreciate his energy and dedication, and he can be proud of the legacy he leaves behind with the board and the association.”
