Aristocrat Leisure has announced a significant change to its gaming business unit’s leadership structure, as Hector Fernandez has resigned as Chief Executive Officer of Aristocrat Gaming.
Effective immediately, the igaming content supplier noted within a statement on its website that Fernandez has stepped down from the CEO role to take up a position with a competitor that was not named.
As a result, Aristocrat Gaming’s former Chief Financial Officer and Executive Vice President of Operations, Craig Toner, has been appointed as the business unit’s new CEO, subject to regulated pre-approvals.
Toner has been with Aristocrat for over seven years, previously serving in positions in Australia and the US. He worked in numerous business finance and operations leadership roles in Sydney before moving to Las Vegas three years ago to become Aristocrat Gaming’s CFO and EVP of Operations.
He also has almost 20 years of senior commercial, strategy and operational experience at Lion Ltd, an alcohol and beverage business in Australia and New Zealand.
“Craig has been a key part of the global Aristocrat Gaming leadership team that has delivered strong growth and transformational change over recent years,” commented Trevor Croker, CEO and Managing Director at Aristocrat.
“He has also worked closely with our Board and Executive Steering Committee on a number of major strategic and operational priorities. Craig is people oriented, highly collaborative and impactful. We are delighted to be able to elevate a proven and capable leader of Craig’s calibre to this role, demonstrating again the depth of talent we have built at Aristocrat.
“Craig will ensure a seamless leadership transition, maintaining a relentless customer focus, and continuing to execute our plans. Aristocrat Gaming today is a global team with extraordinary resilience, depth and momentum, and I have every confidence that Craig will continue to build on this going forward, with the support of the many talented leaders across our global business.”
Now leaving Aristocrat, Fernandez joined the company in 2018 as its CFO of the Americas gaming business unit, before being appointed as Aristocrat Gaming CEO four years later.
Aristocrat also said in its statement that Fernandez’s “relevant contractual obligations include a 12 month non-compete obligation”.
Croker added: “We thank Hector sincerely for his commitment and recognise his contribution to our business over the last six years.”
https://casinobeats.com/2024/12/05/aristocrat-gaming-names-craig-toner-as-ceo-following-hector-fernandezs-resignation/