GREEK ORGANISATION OF FOOTBALL PROGNOSTICS S.A.

CEO SUCCESSION

CEO SUCCESSION

 

OPAP SA today announces that Damian Cope, Chief Executive Officer and Executive Board member, has informed the Board of his intention to step down at the end of his existing four-year contract with the company and will leave the company at the end of May 2020.

 

CEO Succession Process

The Board of OPAP SA and Damian Cope have jointly started a succession planning process to identify internal and external candidates for the permanent CEO position. The Board has also retained a leading international executive search firm to assist in this process and will provide an update in the near future. In the event that a new CEO will not have started by the end of May 2020, when Damian's contract comes to an end, Jan Karas, currently Chief Commercial Officer, will be appointed as Acting CEO and will be supported by Kamil Ziegler, Executive Chairman of the Board of OPAP.  

Kamil Ziegler led the successful restructuring of OPAP while CEO during the period 2013-2016 directly after the privatisation of 33% of OPAP by the Greek State. Jan Karas has been working with OPAP in various roles since 2014 successfully leading the transformation of the retail network and other projects that have contributed to the significant growth in OPAP's revenues during this time. The Board is confident that Mr. Ziegler and Mr. Karas will successfully lead the company in the current turbulent environment and their experience will be essential to minimise effects of the current COVID-19 crisis. The OPAP Board and all the members of the senior management of the company will fully support both of them in this process.



Damian Cope

From 1st June 2020 Damian will continue to support the company as an Adviser to the Board and will also be working with Sazka Group on further international development opportunities.

Commenting on his decision, Damian Cope, CEO OPAP SA, said: “I am incredibly proud of the progress that has been made by the OPAP Team over the last four years. Our 2020 Vision programme has helped drive the transformation of this great Greek organization into a genuinely world class gaming entertainment company.  This achievement is a direct result of the passion and tremendous teamwork of every member of the extended OPAP team – employees, agents and many other loyal partners. Consequently we have delivered significant returns both for our shareholders and for the Greek State during the same period.  I have thoroughly enjoyed my tenure with OPAP and, despite the significant impact of the ongoing COVID-19 crisis on the company, I am confident that the foundations are in place for OPAP to responsibly deliver further value in the future for all stakeholders. From June I will continue to support OPAP's progress no longer on the pitch in Greece but instead as an Adviser to the Board based back in the UK, where I also look forward to rejoining my family.” 

During his tenure as CEO Mr. Damian Cope successfully launched and implemented the company's 2020 Vision with the ambition to establish OPAP as a world-class gaming entertainment company.  This comprehensive transformation programme, driven by 8 Strategic Priorities, has been responsible for a number of significant achievements including:

-              the successful rollout of 25,000 VLTs, one of the largest networks in the world,

-              a euro 100m technology modernization programme involving 60,000+ different devices,

-              the significant expansion of the product portfolio (Virtuals, SSBTs and Online),

-              the introduction of comprehensive compliance and responsible gaming policies,

-              the creation of a strong, high-performing, international management team, and

-              multi-year awarded as one of the Top 10 'Best Places to Work' in Greece

 

Mr. Kamil Ziegler, Executive Chairman, OPAP SA, commented: “I very much appreciate the work and contribution of Damian to the progress of our company activities as well as his effective cooperation with the Board of Directors for the whole period of his term. Damian's advanced communication about his intentions to relocate to join his family enabled the Board to prepare succession plan ahead of his departure.”

 

Athens, 01.04.2020

OPAP S.A.