PlayStar CEO Peter Ekmark has stepped down from the top job with the New Jersey-licensed online casino operator.
Ekmark served as CEO from September 2023, following a year on the company’s board of directors between September 2022-23.
He has been replaced in the role by Fredrik Liljewall, who, up until this point, was co-chair of the PlayStar board of directors.
Following his C-suite departure, Ekmark continues to serve the challenger online casino in an advisory capacity on its newly created Advisory Board, and help ensure a seamless transition of roles.
As well as being on the PlayStard board, Liljewall concurrently serves on the board of directors for two other firms outside of the industry: Personal Touch Home Care and healthcare supplier ACO Reach.
He also works as an investor for VC fund Palanga Capital, doing so since 2020.
The longest spell of his career was 17 years at banking group UBS between 2000 and 2017, with the last 11 years spent in the global equities department.
On his PlayStar appointment, Liljewall told EGR: “We made this leadership change to re-focus the organisation with renewed energy and to make a decisive final push toward profitability for PlayStar New Jersey.
“I have served – and will continue to serve – on the PlayStar Board and have been based in New York for the past 20 years. My background includes more than 25 years in investment banking and private investments, with a strong focus on strategic execution and business transformation.
“Peter will continue to support the company in an advisory capacity and will join our newly formed Advisory Board, ensuring continuity while allowing us to benefit from his deep industry expertise.”
Before joining PlayStar, Ekmark spent three years as CEO of Internet Vikings between October 2019 and September 2022, and still remains on the supplier’s board of directors.
In addition to a nine-month spell at William Hill in 2019 as director of business development, Ekmark also worked at Jackpotjoy from September 2015 and February 2019 in CIO and CCO roles.
Before that, he spent seven years at Kindred Group (now FDJ UNITED) from January 2008 to August 2015, with the last three years in the role of head of product operations.
Back in February, PlayStar formed a new advisory committee to assist the company in its growth plans for the Garden State.
The committee is made up gambling, hospitality and legal experts, including John Finamore, Jai Maw, Carl Sottosanti, Alison Digges, Richard J St Jean and Terrence Gray.
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Peter Ekmark leaves the helm of the New Jersey-facing online casino, with Fredrik Liljewall named as his successor
The post PlayStar CEO steps down from role first appeared on EGR Intel.