CHANGE AT THE TOP FOR BUZZ BINGO

Monday 21 November, 2022:. Buzz Bingo today announces that Chris Matthews will be stepping down from his role as Chief Executive Officer at the end of 2022.

Chris has led the market-leading Bingo operator for the past five years and in that time has successfully overseen a rebrand to Buzz Bingo and the creation and rapid growth of Buzzbingo.com alongside navigating a Covid shutdown and a successful relaunch in 2022.

John Kelly OBE, Buzz Bingo’s chairman said: ‘’Chris has successfully led the business through a change of ownership, two years of pandemic disruption, and a reorganisation of the company’s property portfolio. Under his excellent stewardship, the Buzz brand was born, as was buzzbingo.com, both of which have grown from strength to strength. We want to thank Chris for his leadership and wish him the best of good fortune for the future.”

Dominic Mansour, Chief Operating Officer – Digital, is to be promoted to CEO.  Dominic joined Buzz Bingo at the beginning of 2021 and has been credited with growing its profitable Digital business.   Previous to Buzz Bingo, Dominic held senior leadership positions at Bragg Gaming, Poker Stars and IGT (previously GTECH).

Dominic said: “It’s been an absolute pleasure to work alongside Chris since joining Buzz Bingo in January 2021. I have learnt a tremendous amount from him as to what it takes to grow and protect this much-loved brand.  The business is in good shape for the future and I am excited to lead it on its onward journey, alongside the very talented management team and with the support of our hard-working and committed colleagues.”

Commenting on the move, Chris said: “This has been a difficult decision – especially when you care about a business as much as I do about Buzz.  That said, I do believe that with the company now profitable after the Covid shutdown and Digital growing rapidly, the timing couldn’t be better to hand the baton over to an excellent candidate such as Dominic.”

Dominic will take on the new position from 9th December.

About Buzz Bingo

Buzz Bingo is the UK’s largest retail bingo operator and launched its online platform,  buzzbingo.com in September 2018, which is already one of the leading online bingo brands in the UK.

Buzz Bingo’s cross-generational community numbers over 1.1 million active club members, where 91 clubs welcome thousands of players through their doors to enjoy bingo, play slots games and experience a great night out.  Buzz Bingo runs its clubs and website from its Nottingham and London headquarters.

About Chris Matthews

Chris is an experienced CEO who has worked across Europe in multiple consumer sectors, leading teams and driving customer focused strategy by working with great people.

Joined the UK's largest outdoor retailer, GO Outdoors as Chief Executive in 2013 after holding successful senior leadership positions at Marks and Spencer and Dixons Group.

Led the transformation of GO Outdoors and steered the private equity and founder backed business through a successful exit in the summer of 2017 to its new home - JD Sports PLC.

Joined Bingo market leader, Gala Leisure (owned by Caledonia Private Capital) as CEO in October 2017 and led the team through an extensive change programme. Its new identity, Buzz Bingo, saw one of the UK's biggest rebrands with 2.4m square feet of club retail space reimagined in just six months.

Digital platform, buzzbingo.com joined the business in September 2018 to create a true omni-channel gaming experience with customer protection at its heart.

Chris is Chair of the Bingo Association, and the National Bingo Game Association - positions he will also be resigning given his departure from the Industry.

About Dominic Mansour

Dominic has an extensive background of over 20 years in the gaming and lottery industry. Most recently, he was CEO of Bragg Gaming Group, a business he grew through acquisition, including Oryx Gaming that he listed on the TSX exchange in Canada.  

Previously he could be found at the poker tables as MD of Rational Group’s Full Tilt & SVP for PokerStars, where he is credited with moving the business into recreational poker and launching casino products. He has a deep understanding of the online gaming sector globally, having been CEO at the UK-based Health Lottery and working closely with national regulated lotteries around the world at GTECH, where he was VP of product.  

Prior to his time at GTECH, Dominic was CEO at AIM-listed NetPlay TV, the company that acquired bingos.com, a business Dominic built from the ground up, using private investment.  In 2017, NetPlay TV was acquired by Betsson AB.