Kaizen Gaming CEO George Daskalakis has announced he will step down as Stoiximan CEO, more than 13 years after establishing the Greek and Cypriot operator.
Daskalakis and his co-founder, Dimitris Maris, set up the business in Athens in 2012, with backing of less than €1m and an initial team of 20 people.
In 2018, fellow Greek operator OPAP snapped up an initial 36.75% stake in Stoiximan before increasing its holding to 84.49% in 2020.
OPAP took control of the brand but left the Kaizen Gaming team and Daskalakis in place to run Stoiximan on a B2B basis.
Kaizen Gaming operated Stoiximan in Greece and Cyprus, where it became a local hero for the group and challenged international operators.
The OPAP deal allowed Daskalakis and Kaizen Gaming to focus on its international brand, Betano, which has since emerged as a significant global player with a presence in almost 20 markets, including Brazil where it is thought to be the market leader.
Daskalakis confirmed he will be replaced as CEO by current managing director Nikos Fligos, who has been in the role since November 2024.
Fligos previously served as commercial director for the wider Kaizen Gaming group, having previously worked for tobacco company Philip Morris International and Coca-Cola Greece.
Earlier this year, Kaizen Gaming announced a refreshed senior leadership team, with Konstantinos Diorelis named as commercial director and ex-OPAP head George Vitorakis installed as finance director.
Kaizen Gaming’s Sofia Katsali shifted to head of HR, while Spyros Gerou was appointed head of operations.
Stoiximan sponsors several Greek teams including Olympiacos, Panathinaikos, AEK Athens and PAOK.
It is also the title sponsor of the top division of Cypriot football, and has partnerships in place with the Europa League and Europa Conference League via Kaizen Gaming.
Posting on LinkedIn, Daskalakis wrote: “Part of [the OPAP] agreement was that I would continue to lead the team for a period of time. Gradually this agreement became a relationship. Over the years I enjoyed the full trust of the board, for which I would like to sincerely thank them.
“Today, Stoiximan employees almost 300 people, has a market share of over 50%, contributes a couple of hundred million euros in taxes annually and is very active in supporting sports and in CSR.
“It sounds strange that I won’t be part of this beautiful story anymore, but Stoiximan needs a fully focused leadership which I am not in a position to provide due to my Kaizen Gaming commitments.
“So today, after 13 years, I am proud to say that I am getting off the ship, leaving it in great shape.”
In late 2024, EGR visited Kaizen Gaming’s Athens HQ for an exclusive interview with Daskalakis in which he recounted the launch of Stoiximan and turning Betano into an international powerhouse.
Arnold Ash is EGR’s Executive Recruitment Partner. They support ambitious organisations to identify and attract industry leading executive talent. Find out more here.
The post Kaizen Gaming CEO steps down as Stoiximan boss first appeared on EGR Intel.
Co-founder George Daskalakis to focus solely instead on international brand Betano, as MD Nikos Fligos is promoted to lead the Greece- and Cyprus-facing bookmaker
The post Kaizen Gaming CEO steps down as Stoiximan boss first appeared on EGR Intel.