Betting technology provider Sportech has named its interim executive chairman Richard McGuire as its new chief executive officer.
McGuire has served on the Sportech board since 2016, first joining as a non-executive director, before becoming chair in 2017, following Roger Withers’ retirement. He then took on the role of interim executive chairman in November last year after chief executive Andrew Gaughan resigned.
As a result of taking on the executive chairman role, he relocated to Sportech’s US headquarters in Connecticut. He has more than 30 years’ experience across the gaming, technology and horse racing sectors.
McGuire has worked for major investment banks including Citigroup and Salomon Brothers, as well as serving as director for companies including pub operator Mitchell & Butlers and payment solutions provider Alphameric.
As a result of McGuire becoming CEO of the business, Giles Vardey, who joined as a non-executive director in November 2017, has taken over as chairman, with immediate effect.
Vardey has more than 37 years of business and boardroom experience, having served as CEO of stockbroker Greig Middleton and president and CEO of Fidelity Brokerage Services.
He also served as director of markets development and marketing for the London Stock Exchange, and worked in investment banking for the likes of Salomon Brothers, County NatWest and Swiss Bank Corporation
As a result of the reshuffle, independent non-executive director Chris Rigg becomes audit committee chair, while Vardey will continue to chair the remuneration and nominations committees. Sportech is also reviewing candidates to join the board as an independent non-executive director.
The appointment follows a reshuffle of Sportech’s management team for its B2B division, which saw a number of staff from the recently acquired Lot.to business take on leadership roles.
This saw long-serving technology executive Raj Sanjanwala named group chief technology officer, with Lot.to co-founder Andrew Lindley becoming group chief operating officer. His fellow co-founder Julian Bewley will serve as group chief commercial officer.