Shuffle Master appoints Louis Castle as Chief Strategy Officer

Castle's responsibilities include managing innovation, exploiting compelling i-Gaming and technology opportunities, and leading research and development for all product lines. He will report directly to Shuffle Master's CEO, Gavin Isaacs.

"Lou is a truly gifted leader, an accomplished innovator, proven executive and successful entrepreneur. As part of our recently undertaken strategic review, filling this key role was identified and Lou's background precisely matched what we were looking for. With an intimate knowledge of the company and valuable working experience within our organization from his previous service on our Board of Directors, Lou is a proven match with our culture and the ideal candidate," Isaacs said.

"In this newly created position, Lou will guide and seek to accelerate our innovation to boost future growth, and he will focus on driving value throughout the organization through thought leadership and strategic business development. I believe his impact will be felt in every aspect of our business as we continue to grow our footprint internationally and within compelling new verticals, like the i-Gaming space."

With more than 25 years of experience, Castle is a recognized leader in technology, having specialized in video and social gaming. Prior to joining Shuffle Master as CSO, Castle served as Vice President of Studios at Zynga, focusing on the intersection of social media and gaming technologies.

Earlier in his career, Castle co-founded Westwood Studios, one of the most successful entertainment software companies in the history of the industry and creator of the popular Command & Conquer video game series. After Electronic Arts purchased Westwood Studios in 1998, Castle worked for EA for 11 years, most recently as Vice President of Creative Development for the Los Angeles Studio. After EA, Castle joined Instant Action, a browser-based games company, as its CEO. He has served on Shuffle Master's Board of Directors for the past 6 years, recently serving as Chairman of the Audit Committee. Upon his appointment to CSO, Castle resigned from the company's Board.

"We are very appreciative of Lou's valuable contributions to the Company while serving on the Board of Directors, and we are thrilled that he will now be an integral part of Shuffle Master's executive management team. He will play a critical role in developing and executing our strategic plan that guides our continued growth," said Garry Saunders, Chairman of the Board of Directors for Shuffle Master.

"It's an incredibly exciting time for Shuffle Master, with new technology opening the doors for vibrant opportunities and changing the way the gaming industry evolves," said Castle. "With its vast portfolio of intellectual property and world-renowned brands, Shuffle Master has tremendous opportunities for global growth. I look forward to working with the talented team at Shuffle Master to further define and implement strategies and innovations that will take Shuffle Master to the next level."