Svenska Spel Sport and Casino names Robert Nygren as new head of sales and marketing
Nygren joins the sports betting and casino operator from telecoms provider Telenor.
Sweden.- The state-controlled Swedish gambling operator Svenska Spel has named Robert Nygren as its new head of sales and marketing of its sports betting and casino unit. He joins the management team overseeing brands like Stryktipset and Oddset and will report directly to Fredrik Wastensson, CEO of Svenska Spel Sport & Casino.
Nygren comes to the company from a position as marketing manager and creative director at the telecoms provider Telenor. The civil engineer also has a background in insurance and advertising, having built up the in-house agency at Nordic insurer If before moving to Telenor.
Wastensson said: “Robert’s knowledge and experience from industries such as telecom and insurance will be extremely valuable in our work going forward. With us, he will be responsible for developing the digital marketing and sales process and, in line with Svenska Spel’s overall goal, to focus on the gaming market’s most satisfied customers and to drive long-term sustainable growth.”
Nygren said: “I have been on fantastic growth journeys at both Telenor and If and hope to contribute that experience to Svenska Spel Sport & Casino at the interface between data, customer insight and creativity. Getting to work with all of Sweden’s gaming companies feels like getting 13 right on Stryktipset.
“A dream assignment, quite simply. I have already received many strong impressions from the teams in Stockholm and Visby with a combination of professionalism, passion and team spirit that it really feels fun to be a part of. Svenska Spel has a unique role as both an entertainer and a social actor, and I look forward to contributing.”
Steady first-half results
Svenska Spel reported steady gaming revenue for the first half of the year despite the closure of its last Casino Cosmopol land-based casino in Stockholm. Revenue held firm at SEK 3.68bn (€320m), with the second quarter generating SEK 1.84bn.
Operating profit for the six months was SEK 1.16bn (€100m), falling 17 per cent year-on-year to SEK 545m (€47m). This was put down to the rise in Swedish gambling tax in July last year.
Q2 saw a rise of 1 per cent in revenue from the Oddset sportsbook and from Lotto products, with the Ice Hockey World Championship generating engagement with betting and high-value Eurojackpot prize pots boosting lottery performance. On the other hand, the Vegas slots business saw revenue fall by 13 per cent amid tightened rules on machine placements and reinforced player protection standards.
