Public Gaming Magazine November-December 2015

42 / 60

42 // PUBLIC GAMING INTERNATIONAL // November/December 2015
LOTTERY LEADERSHIP
APPOINTMENTS AND CHANGES
Lottery Leader John Musgrave Retires
John Musgrave, the longtime director of
the West Virginia Lottery retired effec-
tive October 31, bringing to a close a
more than 19-year run that has included
work for four different governors. “I love
this job. I’ve been so fortunate. I like doing
what I do and serving this administration,
as well as the others, but there’s something
that just tells me it’s time,” Musgrave told
West Virginia MetroNews. The lottery had
annual revenue of approximately $220
million when Musgrave took over in 1997.
Musgrave grew those revenues to $1.5
billion. It now has topped $1 billion in
sales for several years. He did that serving
under four different governors from both
Democratic and Republican parties. “They
felt it was very important to have consis-
tency and I think that had a lot to do with
it,” Musgrave said. “We’ve got a great team
left here and so I leave with confidence that
the Lottery is in the right hands and we have
the right people to move it forward,” he said.
Musgrave said he’ll miss handing out those
oversized checks to lottery winners. “I’ve
had the opportunity to meet folks who have
taken their winnings and they’ve just abso-
lutely given back to the community. So that’s
a great part of this job,” he said. “This won’t
be easy” Musgrave told a large crowd at his
last lottery commission meeting. “This is a
job that I love.”
John Myers Appointed as Acting
Director of the West Virginia Lottery
Myers said he anticipates few changes
within the commission. “There are two
main things for me: We’re regulators, and
that’s first and foremost for us,” he said. “The
second thing is to continue to generate revenue
for the state so we keep these good programs
going.” Myers said he will also be monitor-
ing changes within the industry, including
development of innovative methods of
delivering lottery and gaming products.
Myers, who has been with the Lottery for
7½ years and has been assistant director
since 2008, succeeds John Musgrave, who
retired Friday after nearly 19 years as the
Lottery’s director. “He’s been quite a good
mentor and good friend to me,” Myers said
of Musgrave.
Christiane Jansen Appointed
Managing Director of WestLotto
Effective January 1, 2016, the North
Rhine-Westphalian lotteries WestLotto
transitions its leadership to Christiane
Jansen. The current managing director
and spokesman (since 2010) of Germany’s
largest lottery, Theo Gossner, retires effec-
tive March 31, 2016. The role of West-
Lotto spokesperson is assumed by former
managing director Andreas Kötter. The
appointment of Christiane Jansen secures
for the West German lottery GmbH
& Co. OHG continuity in the manage-
ment of the company and follows the path
of consistent and sustainable position-
ing as a modern and leading provider of
legal Gambling products. “The orderly suc-
cession in the management makes WestLotto
future proofed while ensuring stability for
the ongoing efforts of the market leader to
consolidate in the lottery sector and expand.
Today’s personnel decision also strengthens
WestLotto for the needs of the future, includ-
ing the discussion about the future structure
and legal regime of the German gaming
market” says Michael Stölting, Chairman
of the BoardWestLotto and responsible
board member of the General Partner
NRW.BANK. “The approach taken by Theo
Gossner in his leadership of WestLotto, with
the European lottery Euro Jackpot draw up
nationally and progress in other areas of the
business, is now positioned for consistent and
sustainable accomplishments. For this we
Pulse
of the
Industry
These news stories comprise a small fraction of the gaming and lottery news stories posted
every day to www .PublicGaming.com. Too, these stories are the short versions. You can
visit our news website and go to the “search” field at www.PublicGaming. com to pull up the
complete story. Sign up for our free e -newsletter by just sending your e -mail address to
sjason@publicgaming .com.