Public Gaming Magazine September-October 2016

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78 // PUBLIC GAMING INTERNATIONAL // September/October 2016
Olli Sarekoski, CEO, Veikkaus
executive team of the
new finnish gaming
company appointed
Responsibility and reliability are the
cornerstones of the Finnish gaming
system. The new gaming company
will need to earn its position among
Finns from the very beginning,
meeting the competition on the
digital market in a responsible way.
Whilst appointing the members of
the Executive Team, we paid atten-
tion not only to formal competence
but also to competence in public
affairs, says Mr Olli Sarekoski, CEO
of the new gaming company as of 1
January 2017.
• The new Finnish gaming company
will start its operations on 1 January
2017, as the gaming operations of
Fintoto, RAY, and Veikkaus merge.
• The new company will offer fun
and benefits by providing entertain-
ing Finnish games: it will generate
over one billion euros a year to the
common good for everyone living
in Finland.
• For the present and until the end of
2016, the current Executive Teams
of Fintoto, RAY, and Veikkaus will
be responsible for running the pres-
ent gaming operators, operating
under the temporary name FRV Evo
Oy. As of 1 January 2017, the new
gaming company will be called Veik-
kaus. The company has a total of 1.9
million Finnish loyal customers, and
employs nearly 2,000 people.
• FRV Evo Oy’s board has currently
four members: chairman Olli-Pekka
Kallasvuo, Outi Henriksson, Han-
na Sievinen, and Pekka Hurtola.
The Executive Team of the new gam-
ing company will have 10 members in
addition to CEO Olli Sarekoski:
• Executive Vice President Velipe-
kka Nummikoski, responsible
for communications, beneficiary
and public relations, and sponsor-
ship. CV: .: CEO of RAY
2012–2016, State Secretary, Prime
Minister’s Office 2011–2012, State
Secretary, Ministry of Finance
2007–2011, Vice President, Com-
munications, Elisa 2003–2007, Vice
President, Communications Ra-
diolinja 2000–2003.
• Senior Vice President, Business
Operations Nora Vähävirta, respon-
sible for products, marketing, and
brand and product development.
CV: . (Computer Science):
Vice President, Business Operations
Group, Veikkaus 2014–2016, Vice
President, Retailer Sales, 2008–
2013, CRM Manager, Veikkaus
2006–2008, Senior Consultant,
Accenture Oy 1994–2006.—Senior
Vice President, ICT
• Senior Vice President, ICT Timo
Kiiskinen, responsible for gaming
and other systems, and the product
development process. CV: .
Pulse
of the
Industry
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