Penn National Gaming, Inc. announced that Carl Sottosanti, the company’s executive vice president, general counsel and secretary, will retire effective December 31, 2020. As his successor, the company has named 20-year gaming industry legal executive Harper Ko, who will serve as executive vice president, chief legal officer and secretary, effective January 1, 2021, subject to customary regulatory approvals.
Ko joins Penn National from Everi Holdings Inc., where she has served as executive vice president, chief legal officer and general counsel.
Throughout his 17-year career at Penn National, Sottosanti has played a critical role in helping drive the company’s growth and evolution from a small regional gaming operator into the nation’s leading omnichannel provider of retail and interactive gaming, sports betting and entertainment.
Sottosanti joined Penn National in 2003 as vice president of legal & business affairs and deputy general counsel. He helped lead the legal and regulatory efforts surrounding the company’s acquisitions of Hollywood Casino Corporation and Argosy Gaming, each of which doubled the size of Penn National at the time. He also helped oversee Penn National’s corporate governance, as well as labor and employment matters.
In 2014, Sottosanti was promoted to executive vice president and general counsel, and helped guide Penn National through the next chapter of its growth story, including the acquisition and successful integration of Pinnacle Entertainment, as well as its investment in Barstool Sports.
“Throughout his career at Penn National, Carl has been known for his tireless work ethic, dogged determination, and fierce advocacy in support of our company’s interests,” said Jay Snowden, president and chief executive officer. “Carl has been a trusted personal adviser and a consummate teammate, and while he’ll be leaving behind some big shoes to fill, I’m confident that Harper Ko will do a great job in carrying on the standard of excellence that Carl has established for our Legal Department.”
Harper Ko brings more than 20 years of corporate legal and regulatory compliance experience on behalf of gaming equipment suppliers and casino operators to her new role at Penn National. She has served as executive vice president, chief legal officer, general counsel and secretary at Everi since 2017, and was tapped to help guide the former Global Cash Access through its ongoing transition to a full-service casino gaming equipment and payment solutions provider.
“Harper brings a wealth of expertise regarding the industry’s complex regulatory and compliance requirements that will serve us well as we continue to execute our growth strategies across our land-based, interactive and sports betting platforms,” said Snowden. “We’re excited to add someone of her caliber to our team.”
Prior to joining Everi, Ko served as deputy general counsel, gaming for Scientific Games Corporation. During her time there, she led the legal integration of Bally Gaming, Inc. SHFL entertainment Inc., and WMS Gaming Inc. into the Scientific Games Gaming division, and served as a strategic adviser to the gaming unit executive management team.
She also worked as a contract attorney for Harrah’s Operating Company, associate corporate counsel for Aristocrat Technologies, and staff counsel for WMS Gaming.
Ko also served as co-general counsel and vice president of the Association of Gaming Equipment Manufacturers, and is a past recipient of the Rising Star Award by Great Women in Gaming.
Also last week, Penn National Gaming named advertising trade association executive Marla Kaplowitz to the board on November 24. The appointment increased the board to eight members.
Kaplowitz brings some 30 years of experience in business management, strategic planning, and marketing and communications to a company with 41 gaming properties in 19 states, according to CDC Gaming Reports.
She serves as CEO of the American Association of Advertising Agencies, a trade association serving more than 600 member agencies across 1,200 offices throughout the U.S. Combined the membership accounts for 85 percent of the total country’s domestic advertising spending.
“Marla is an innovator and a proven leader in marketing and digital transformation, which will serve us well as Penn National continues its evolution into the nation’s leading omnichannel provider of retail and interactive gaming, sports betting and entertainment,” Penn Chairman David Handler said in a statement. “We’re delighted to have her unique talents on the board.”
