The former Italian online gaming regulator Francesco Rodano, has joined the executive management team at Playtech as Chief Policy Officer. Romano will be based in London and report to the group’s chief executive Mor Weizer.
The company’s new Chief Policy Officer will engage with policy-makers and advise company executives on governmental policies at EU, national, state and local levels as well as provide the company with further business opportunities by developing new relationships and fostering existing connections with institutional organisations and industry stakeholders on a global level with the exception of Italy.
Francesco Rodano has more than 18 years of experience working across several online businesses with the last nine years at the Italian gambling regulatory authority Amministrazione Autonoma dei Monopoli di Stato, where he was responsible for the management and leadership of the country’s online gaming regulation.
While at Amministrazione Autonoma dei Monopoli di Stato Rodano reformed the country’s regulatory framework and oversaw the introduction of a comprehensive range of regulated online software, such as poker in 2008 and casino games in 2011, attracting more than 100 licensees to the industry.
During Rodano’s tenure, the country’s gross gambling revenue grew to more than €800 million, making it the second largest regulated market in Europe, with Italy becoming a successful case study for other regulators whose countries have or are soon to be regulated. Rodano was also the recipient of the International Masters of Gaming Law’s Regulator of the Year award in 2008.
He has been a member of the European Commission’s Group on Gambling Services since 2012, where Rodano supported a draft of the formal initiatives recently adopted by the Commission.
“Thanks to his professional achievements and his personal stature, Francesco has become a highly influential figure in the international online gambling arena. We’re delighted he has chosen to join Playtech and I’m sure he will provide an invaluable contribution to the further growth of the company,” Mor Weizer, CEO, Playtech, said.
“After many years spent as a regulator, I’m excited to move to the industry side and to join Playtech at a time when focus on regulated markets is a global priority. Playtech has a talented and respected management team and I am really looking forward to supporting them on public policy matters,” Francesco Rodano, said.
