Allwyn has announced a significant shake-up in its leadership team with the appointment of former Bally’s executive Paul Evans as the new Chief Technology Officer (CTO). Evans steps into the role previously held by Tony Khatskevich, who will transition to an advisory position, collaborating closely with the Allwyn board and CEO Robert Chvátal.
Evans brings with him a wealth of experience and a proven track record in the technology sector, particularly within the gaming industry. His most recent role was as group CTO at Bally’s, where he spent five years leading technological advancements and innovation. Prior to his tenure at Bally’s, Evans held the CTO position at Gamesys, an entity that was eventually acquired by Bally’s in October 2021.
Before making his mark at Bally’s and Gamesys, Evans amassed significant experience with major global companies. At Alibaba/Lazada Group, he played a crucial role in their technology departments, and at PropertyGuru Singapore, he contributed to their technological growth. His career also includes a notable period at Betfair, where he served as head of development for the platform, demonstrating his deep expertise in developing and managing high-performance technology systems.
“I’m delighted to have been appointed as group CTO of Allwyn,” Evans expressed. “The company’s commitment to social impact is evident across its global footprint. I look forward to helping the team to develop even better lotteries and new game formats through the power of cutting-edge technology and future thinking.”
Robert Chvátal, CEO of Allwyn, warmly welcomed Evans to the team, highlighting his impressive capability and proven success in the field. “He has exceptional strategic capabilities, proven operational effectiveness, and strong experience in our markets,” Chvátal said. He emphasized that Evans’s extensive background in delivering technology solutions would be invaluable to Allwyn’s growth and innovation.
Chvátal also took a moment to thank outgoing CTO Tony Khatskevich for his invaluable contributions to the company. Khatskevich joined Allwyn from Playtech in September 2018 and has been instrumental in establishing a robust technology function for the company. “He played a pivotal role in conceiving and leading technology initiatives that have driven innovation across the Group,” Chvátal stated.
. He assured stakeholders that Khatskevich would continue to influence Allwyn positively in his new advisory role, sharing his wisdom, knowledge, and ideas.
Khatskevich’s transition to an advisory role comes at a time of significant growth and transformation for Allwyn. This week, the company revealed its projected Q1 revenue is expected to surpass €2.00bn (£1.70bn/$2.17bn), marking its first quarterly results since securing the license to operate the UK’s National Lottery.
Allwyn estimates that its gross gaming revenue for the quarter ending 31 March 2024 could reach as high as €2.05bn. Even the lower range of €2bn represents a substantial increase of almost $500m compared to the Q1 2023 figures. This projection follows Allwyn’s strategic acquisition of UK National Lottery operator Camelot in March 2023, which played a pivotal role in the company securing the national lottery license on 1 February 2024. The acquisition was a key factor in Allwyn achieving a remarkable 97.5% surge in revenue in 2023, bringing the total to an impressive €7.87bn.
The appointment of Paul Evans as CTO is a clear indication of Allwyn’s commitment to leveraging top-tier technology leadership to foster its growth and innovation agenda. Evans’s extensive experience in spearheading technological advancements in the gaming sector positions him as a strategic asset for Allwyn as it aims to enhance its offerings and expand its market footprint.
Under Evans’s technological stewardship, Allwyn is poised to embark on a new phase of development, harnessing advanced technology and forward-thinking strategies to create superior lottery experiences and innovative game formats. As the company continues to grow and evolve, the contributions of both Evans in his new role and Khatskevich in his advisory capacity will be pivotal to driving Allwyn’s success and maintaining its competitive edge in the gaming industry.
