Betsson are, as most will know, one of the biggest players in the Online Gaming Industry and, as such, their senior management and directorship are familiar faces. But their newly appointed CEO and President is an even more familiar face than most.
Ulrik Bengtsson has been with Betsson for four years in his role as CEO of operational company, BML Group Ltd- based in Malta. As of this week, while he will still hold his position as CEO of BML Group Ltd, he will also assume the role of CEO and President of Betsson AB. The position was previously held by Pontus Lindwall who, following the changeover period, will return to his role as working Chairman of the Board.
The Swedish-born Bengtsson gleaned his experience working for a variety of well-known companies, holding Sales roles within Telenor and IBM and, later, as CEO of Viasat in Sweden and, most recently, CEO of MTG’s pay-TV operations within the Eastern European area.
Betsson- Still Growing Exponentially
Betsson is, of course, a big company to hold together. and has grown rapidly since it’s creation in 1963. In recent years- with Bengtsson’s direct management, the gambling giant has acquired a number of companies, and a number of well-known casinos such as Betsafe, Nordicbet, Cherry Casino, Star Casino, Mr Smith Casino and Kroon Casino all form part of the Betsson brand.
Betsson Operations in Malta
While some might argue that Bengtsson could encounter difficulties in managing both the operations in Malta and throughout Betsson’s other working locations- in Europe, Central Asia and Latin America, the fact remains that 800 of the 1700 people employed by the company are based within Malta. Housed within Betsson’s own ‘Experience Centre’ on the seafront in the Ta’Xbiex area, it’s a far cry from the small 30-man office the company began with in Malta in 2005.
Speaking of his recent appointment, Bengtsson said:
“I have been part of an incredible journey over the past four years with Betsson, but I think that we are still only at the start of a structural transformation of the entire industry, which is enabled by a continued transfer of the activity towards online. In my role as CEO and President of Betsson, I will continue to ensure that in the first instacne the group focuses on customers, and that innovation takes place where it is important for them. In this way Betsson will continue to gain marketshare. Our strategy to grow both organically and through acquisitions remains.”