Czech gambling group SAZKA Group has announced Kenneth Morton’s appointment as Chief Financial Officer (CFO), effective 1 February 2020.

Morton is the former head of corporate finance for KKGC–a private equity company founded by Czech billionaire Karel Komarek, the key investor of SAZKA group.

As an executive of KKGC, Morton is reported to have orchestrated a number of SAZKA group investments which saw Komarek’s fund take over the Czech gambling group’s ownership in 2019.

SAZKA Governance states in its update that outgoing CFO Peter Stohr will continue with the company until the end of March ensuring a smooth transition of duties.

SAZKA Group CEO Robert Chvatal has commented:“I am delighted to welcome Kenneth to the SAZKA Group team. We have worked together extensively on some of SAZKA Group’s most important initiatives since he joined KKCG, and his banking and international experience will be valuable assets as we execute our business and financial strategies.”

Closing trading in 2019, Robert Chvátal confirmed to the media that Sazka would be participating in the 2020 tender by the UK government, bidding for exclusive rights to operate the National Lottery in 2023.

Underlining SAZKA’s motives, Chvátal said after a busy 2019 in which Sazka secured majority shareholdings in OPAP Greece and Casinos Austria,’ investing in the UK is the next stop.’