Playson taps Ben Wood as new CCO for commercial expansion in regulated markets

iGaming supplier Playson brought in long-time gaming executive Ben Wood as Chief Commercial Officer, tapping more than 15 years of his commercial, content, and partnership experience from roles at Bally’s Interactive and Microgaming.

Wood will direct Playson's global commercial strategy, working with operators to deliver the company’s slot portfolio in regulated jurisdictions. His responsibilities include B2B relationship management and guiding market entry plans for the supplier.

“Playson has built a fantastic reputation for quality, creativity, and reliability in iGaming. Their must-have content has stamped its own indelible mark in established and new markets alike. I'm thrilled to join the team at such an exciting time and look forward to contributing to the company's continued growth across Europe and globally,” Wood said.

Before joining Playson, Wood held senior roles at Bally’s Interactive, where he worked as VP iGaming Content Delivery and Managing Director IOM. He previously spent more than a decade at Microgaming in commercial leadership roles. His background also includes commercial consulting for Blueprint Gaming and involvement in teams introducing operators to new platforms and service providers.

Throughout his career, he has worked on partnerships that involve multiple regulated jurisdictions and has managed internationally distributed commercial and product teams.

“Ben's experience and vision make him an excellent addition to our leadership team. His understanding of regulated markets and commercial strategy will be invaluable as we continue to expand and strengthen our relationships with key partners globally,” said Vsevolod Lapin, Deputy CEO of Playson.

Alex Ivshin, Strategic Advisor at Playson, added: “Ben's appointment marks an important step in Playson's journey to solidify its standing among the top five suppliers globally. His expertise in regulated markets — particularly the UK, Spain, and Ontario — will help us amplify our reach and deliver even greater value to partners.”

Wood steps in following the departure of former CCO Tamas Kusztos, who exited the role to pursue new personal goals. Kusztos will remain involved with Playson to support an organised transition and continuity with long-term commercial objectives.

Playson reports operations in 26 regulated markets and collaborates with more than 200 partners internationally. The company’s team works across multiple locations, with headquarters in Malta and Slovakia.