Matt Wilson, who left his position as managing director, Americas for slot manufacturer Aristocrat Leisure, Ltd. prior to a management restructuring there, will join rival Scientific Games Corp. next year as group chief executive of the Gaming Division, according to a CDC Gaming Reports.
Last week, Aristocrat announced major changes in its leadership, creating a new global CEO, land-based position and new leadership in the Americas. Mitchell Bowen has been appointed to the newly created position of global CEO, land-based, and is responsible for all of Aristocrat’s regulated gaming businesses worldwide. Hector Fernandez, CFO, Americas, has been promoted to president, Aristocrat Americas, reporting directly to Bowen.
Aristocrat reported that Fernandez replaced Wilson, saying only that Wilson had left the company for an outside opportunity. GGBNews learned that hat the outside opportunity is the post at Scientific Games. Wilson will assume the top Gaming Division job at SG at the conclusion of a non-competition agreement period in his Aristocrat contract.
Wilson will report directly to Scientific Games CEO Barry Cottle, who commented in a statement to CDC that the company is thrilled to welcome the former Aristocrat exec.
Wilson drove the growth of Aristocrat’s product line over the past few years, including directing the consolidation of the supplier’s Las Vegas headquarters in a new 18,000-square-foot headquarters facility in the Summerlin suburb of Las Vegas.
Wilson will replace longtime Scientific Games executive Derik Mooberry as head of the company’s gaming division. Mooberry will stay on as group CEO of the division until Wilson’s arrival, after which he will transition into a “senior advisory role” with the Gaming Division.
Wilson brings with him Siobhan Lane, who had been Aristocrat’s senior vice president of marketing and gaming operations.
“We are thrilled Matt and Siobhan are joining our world-class team,” Cottle said in a statement. “This is yet another huge step forward as we continue to assemble the best talent in our industry. Our current offering of world-class products and services are gaining tremendous traction with customers, players and top talent. These appointments build on our momentum as we continue to lead our industry into the future.”
It’s not the first time this year Scientific Games has turned to talent that had helped Aristocrat in its turnaround during recent years. In May, SG hired Jamie Odell, former CEO of Aristocrat Leisure, Ltd., as a special adviser to Cottle and company Chairman Ronald Perelman.
