Roger Withers, Chairman of Playtech, Announces Retirement.

Roger Withers started his career at Playtech at the company’s Initial Public Offering in 2006. After seven years on the job, and growing Playtech from a small company that stood in other giant’s shade, into a giant in its own right, he finally downed tools in 2013.

This was major news in the online casino world, as Withers was known as a stalwart of the industry. It was revealed soon after the initial news break that Withers would not be retiring completely however.

Playtech officially stated: “Mr. Withers, whose seven-year tenure commenced with the company’s Initial Public Offering in March 2006, will be retained as an advisor to the company using his extensive industry knowledge to advise on strategic initiatives in the gambling industry.”

Significant Growth

Playtech started life as a relatively small company compared to other online developers. Under Withers’ reign as Chairman it grew in leaps and bounds to become one of the most well known online casino games developers in Britain and the world over. Between 2006 and 2010 Playtech expanded its activities to a number of countries outside of its native UK, including Bulgaria, Serbia and Italy.

A number of acquisitions were obtained during Withers’ leadership. These allowed the Playtech brand to become an industry leader with a whole string of licences such as Ash Gaming, GTS, Virtue Fusion, Mobenga, PTTS, and Intelligence Gaming added to their portfolio

When Withers’ retired, Playtech had become one of the top 150 UK listed companies with no debt and one billion Euros of assets.

Replacement Alan Jackson

Withers was replaced as Chairman by Alan Jackson, who was a former non executive chairman of Playtech. Jackson has over four decades of experience on many boards for listed and private companies in the same sector.

Withers said of his replacement that with the success of the business firmly established and set to continue, he happily leaves Playtech financially robust, in great hands and well placed to continue to serve its licensees, shareholders, employees and other stakeholders. He also said that he was particularly pleased that Alan agreed to become Chairman, as neither he nor Playtech could ask for a better successor.

Under Jackson Playtech has continued to grow. It put significant funds into creating and improving its mobile division, brining NRL spreads games to an even wider audience across the world. A number of new acquisitions have taken place too, such as Aristocrat Lotteries in 2014 for a massive 10.5 million Euros. YoYo Games and a Forex trader, Plus500 joined the Playtech stable later that year as well.

Jackson thanked Withers for his contribution, saying that since the Initial Public Offering, Roger has been a highly valued member of the Board and was instrumental to the significant achievements of Playtech. He has also successfully navigated Playtech to become the eminent global provider of online gaming software and supplier to world-leading brands. On behalf of the Board and Playtech’s shareholders he went on to thank Roger for his substantial contribution.”

Life After Playtech

Since retiring Roger Withers has been retained as a valuable member of the Playtech family. He still consults and acts as Chairman for a world-leading pool betting operator and technology provider, Sportech PLC.