Ulrik Bengtsson departs Raketech board to become CEO of Sun International
The South African gaming group aims to become a regional leader.
Malta.- Ulrik Bengtsson has stepped down from his position as chair of the igaming affiliate group Raketech to accept a role as CEO of the South African gaming group Sun International. He will replace Anthony Leeming, who has led Sun International since 1999 and is taking early retirement.
Bengtsson previously served as CEO of Betsson from 2012 to 2017 and of William Hill from 2019 to 2022. He joined Raketech’s board in April 2021 in place of Christian Lundberg.
He also serves as chair of City Gaming, operator of the Game Nation slot arcades brand in the UK, and, since October 2024, of Hostelworld Group. It is not yet clear if Bengtsson will remain at City Gaming, but Hostelworld Group has announced that he will step down from its board by October 2025.
“Stepping back into a full-time CEO role feels like the right professional move for me, and the opportunity I have been presented with is compelling,” Bengtsson said. “I am confident that the entire Raketech board and executive team remain dedicated to strengthening the balance sheet and shaping an exciting strategy that I expect will be unveiled to investors in the coming months.
“I firmly believe Raketech has the potential to be a key player in the global igaming ecosystem, both now and in the future, and that the company is well-positioned to generate substantial returns for all shareholders over time.”
Regarding Sun International, Bengtsson said: “Sun International is an iconic leisure group with a proud heritage, and a unique growth opportunity to become a leading omnichannel player in the rapidly evolving global gaming landscape. I am thrilled to bring my experience and expertise to this fantastic organisation as Chief Executive and look forward to working with the board and other stakeholders to drive its continued success and chart a bold path forward into the future.”
The South African gaming group has a similarity to William Hill in that it had a major land-based gambling business before launching online offerings, although its legacy brand is associated not with bookmaking but its South African casino resorts. It now has 13 land-based casinos and also operates online betting and gaming under the Sun Bet and Sun Slots brands. It aims to expand further abroad.
Last week, the company reported a 5 per cent increase in revenue for 2024 to R12.6bn (£642m). Sun Bet revenue rose by 61 per cent to R1.2bn (£51.2m).
Chairman Sam Sithole said: “Anthony has left an indelible mark on Sun International and the remainder of the group, and I would like to thank him for his significant contribution and dedication to the business over the last 26 years, and especially for his exemplary stewardship of the group since 2017.
“Ulrik is a highly experienced and accomplished global executive with deep industry knowledge and expertise. His proven track record of delivering results and unlocking value in complex, dynamic environments position him extremely well to lead Sun International into its next phase of growth. The board extends a warm welcome to Ulrik as Chief Executive.”
At William Hill, Bengtsson saw the company through the Covid-19 pandemic and oversaw the company’s sale to Caesars Entertainment for £2.9bn in September 2020. He stepped down before the completion of the subsequent sale of William Hill’s European business to 888 Holdings (now Evoke) in 2022.
After leaving William Hill in 2022, Bengtsson spent a year at Virgin Media as chief operating officer and then chief commercial officer between April 2023 and October 2024. There had been speculation that he might head to Entain. The London-listed gambling operator is looking for a new CEO after Gavin Isaacs left suddenly last month after under six months as CEO.
