Templer to take operational reins of world's
largest online poker business as it expands in Casino and
Sportsbook
ONCHAN, Isle of Man, Dec. 21, 2016
/CNW/ - Guy Templer has been
appointed Chief Operating Officer of Rational Group, the operator
of the world's largest poker business, PokerStars, an Amaya Inc.
(NASDAQ: AYA; TSX: AYA) brand.
Templer, who is currently Chief Strategy Officer, will assume
the role January 1 and will continue
to report to Rafi Ashkenazi, CEO of Amaya and Rational Group, and
will be responsible for the day-to-day management of significant
parts of the organization, including, but not limited to, Customer
Support, Security & Integrity, Information Security, and
Payments, and will continue to be responsible for the teams
launching core products into new markets and adding new verticals
within existing markets.
Templer joined PokerStars in 2011 as Group Director of Business
Development and Strategy and has directed key initiatives including
PokerStars' re-entry into the U.S. market; the launches of Casino,
Sportsbook and Social Gaming; and the local licensing of the
company's brands across Europe,
which have established the company as the leading advocate for
online poker regulation and the most-licensed online poker operator
in the world.
"Guy has been a key architect of our strategy and our
Operational Excellence efforts that are driving our business toward
sustainable, diversified growth," said Ashkenazi. "His deep
knowledge of the company, our customers and our products combined
with his industry expertise makes him a vital member of our
executive management team."
"Rafi and I have a great established working relationship," said
Templer. "My renewed focus on the operations side of the business,
both core products and new markets, will free Rafi to continue to
deliver the strategic gains that we've planned for our growing
portfolio of brands for 2017 and beyond."
Prior to joining Rational Group, Templer held positions at
NetPlay TV Plc as Chief Operating Officer, Two Way TV and Two Way
Gaming as Commercial Director and Managing Director, and the UK
Government's overseas aid wing, the Department for International
Development. In 2011, he relocated with his family to the Isle of
Man, where Rational Group is headquartered.
About PokerStars
PokerStars operates the world's most popular online poker sites,
serving the global poker community. Since it launched in 2001,
PokerStars has become the first choice of players all over the
world, with more daily tournaments than anywhere else and with the
best online security. More than 155 billion hands have been dealt
on PokerStars, which is more than any other site.
PokerStars is the flagship brand of Rational Group, which is
ultimately owned by Amaya Inc. (Nasdaq: AYA; TSX: AYA) and operates
gaming-related businesses and brands, including PokerStars, Full
Tilt, StarsDraft, BetStars, PokerStars Casino and the PokerStars
Championship and PokerStars Festival live poker tour brands
(incorporating the European Poker Tour, PokerStars Caribbean
Adventure, Latin American Poker Tour and the Asia Pacific Poker
Tour). Amaya, through certain subsidiaries, is licensed, approved
to offer, or offers under third party licenses or approvals, its
products and services in various jurisdictions throughout the
world, including in Europe, both
within and outside of the European Union, the Americas and
elsewhere. In particular, PokerStars is the world's most licensed
online gaming brand, holding licenses or related operating
approvals in 16 jurisdictions. PokerStars.com and PokerStars.eu
operate globally under licenses from the Isle of Man and
Malta governments,
respectively.
Play Responsibly! For more information on responsible
gaming please visit our website at
http://www.pokerstars.com/about/responsible-gaming/
SOURCE Amaya Inc.