Merkur Gaming, the gaming machine subsidiary of German amusement giant Gauselmann Group, has named industry veteran David Orrick as director of industry relations.
For the past nine years, Orrick, a 20-year veteran of European gaming supply, has been director of communications and business development for Novomatic Group. He had been brought to Novomatic by the late Jens Halle, who was managing director of Novomatic’s Austrian Gaming Industries subsidiary before moving to Merkur shortly before his death last year.
“I am truly both excited and honored, in equal measure, to be given this great opportunity,” Orrick said. “The strength of European gaming companies has always been their entrepreneurial spirit, allied to technical excellence and innovation. In Merkur Gaming those qualities are at the very forefront of the company’s culture and that, allied to the clearly stated ambition for international expansion, is what will drive and energize me.”
Charles Hiten, chief executive for Merkur Gaming Americas, said, “David Orrick has been a valued and respected colleague for many years. I am excited to be working with David again, drawing on his proven skills and his wealth of contacts as we continue to expand across a swathe of international markets and build a truly international brand.”
Athanasios ‘Sakis’ Isaakidis, senior director of international sales for Merkur, added, “We have very clear plans to build on our existing market presence and to expand our global position across a range of new territories. I very much believe that having a seasoned professional in David Orrick will be a huge asset in achieving our goals as we continue to build the Merkur Gaming name and brand recognition.”
As Novomatic announced that the departure was on “the most amicable of terms,” Orrick paid tribute to Novomatic and to his late boss Halle.
“I leave Novomatic with many happy memories and with thanks to the many friends, colleagues and business partners with whom I have cooperated so successfully over the past nine years,” he said. “This was a very difficult decision for me but I now need to turn the page and begin to write a new chapter in my life.
“Jens was much more than just my boss, he was my mentor, my inspiration and, above all, my friend. Through this new appointment, I will wear the Merkur sun emblem with pride, and I hope that I will honor the memory of Jens and always strive to work within the personal values and professional excellence on which he built his sadly all-too-short career.”
