Ström to stand down at Kindred

The founder of Unibet has said he will not stand for re-election as non-executive chairman.

Sweden.- Anders Ström, the founder of Unibet, which grew into the Kindred Group, has announced that he will not stand for re-election as non-executive chairman.

He has informed the Stockholm-based igaming operator’s nominations committee of his decision not to stand for reelection because he had promised he would spend more time with family. 

Ström said: “By informing the Nomination Committee that I will not stand for re-election at the AGM of 2021, I will thus be able to start fulfilling this promise before I turn fifty, on Friday the 4th.

“Kindred has undertaken a fantastic journey during the 23 years that have passed since I founded its most well known brand, Unibet, and has developed into a great company with almost 30 million customers, 1,600 employees, and with excellent further opportunities of growth with the right strategies and focus.

“Hence, I look forward to taking part in such a growth in value as an owner and investor.”

Kindred’s nomination committee chairman, Evert Carlsson said Ström was “an important and inspiring asset to the board” providing it with “in-depth knowledge of the industry and contributed to a stable and competent board.”

Ström founded Unibet in 1997 from his home in Earl’s Court, London. The company received a licence in 1998 and began taking telephone bets. It launched a website the next year.

It later gained an international licence in Malta and expanded rapidly as Unibet Group. It listed on the Swedish Stock Exchange in 2004 and rebranded as Kindred Group in 2016.

In October, Kindred acquired a land-based casino, Blankenberge Casino-Kursaal, from Rank in Belgium.