Since launching the EMEA edition in 2018, the Global Gaming Awards have continued their mission to recognise the executives and organisations whose leadership, innovation, and strategic vision shape the future of gaming across Europe, the Middle East, and Africa. The Awards are widely regarded as the most trusted in the industry thanks to their rigorous shortlisting and voting processes, ensuring integrity at every stage.
"Every edition of the Global Gaming Awards shines a spotlight on the leaders whose direction and foresight move our industry forward," said Mariya Savova, Event Manager of the Global Gaming Awards.
"Great achievements in gaming are always driven by executives who take decisive action, champion new ideas and empower their teams to excel. This year's nominees embody these qualities and we are proud to recognise them," she added.
Listed in no particular order, here is the 2026 Shortlist for Executive of the Year at the Global Gaming Awards Europe, Middle East & Africa. The reasons why each nominee has earned their place on this list will be unveiled in the official Shortlist magazine which will be published here on Global Gaming Insider in a couple of weeks.
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Vlad Kaltenieks, CEO, BoyleSports
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David Natroshvili, CEO & Founder, SPRIBE
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Jovana Popovic Canaki, CEO, iGP
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James Curwen, CEO, Yggdrasil
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Marina Ostrovtsova, CEO, BGaming
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Nadiya Attard, CCO, Elantil
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Ebbe Groes, Co-CEO and Co-Founder, EveryMatrix
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Jesper Svensson, CEO, Betsson Group
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Yoel Zuckerberg, Chief Product Officer, Soft2Bet
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Grainne Hurst, CEO, Betting & Gaming Council
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Vigen Badalyan, Co-Founder, SoftConstruct
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Sacha Dragic, Founder & CEO, Superbet Group
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Simon Thomas, Executive Chairman, The Hippodrome Casino
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Lara Falzon, CEO (B2B Brands), Yolo Group
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George Daskalakis, Co-Founder & CEO, Kaizen Gaming
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Axel Hefer, CEO, Tipico
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Robert Chvátal, Group CEO, Allwyn
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Helen Walton, CCO & Founder, G.Games
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Eva Berkova, COO, Betby
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Werner Becher, CEO, Kambi.
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Stéphane Pallez, CEO and Chairwoman, FDJ United
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Anna Johnson, CEO, Svenska Spel
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Christopher Coyne, Co-Founder & CEO, 888AFRICA
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Robeson Reeves, CEO, Intralot
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Vardges Vardanyan, Founder, Digitain Group
The Executive of the Year category is sponsored by Interblock - the world's leading developer and supplier of electronic table games, renowned for delivering premier gaming solutions.
Other category sponsors for 2026 include: Aristocrat Gaming, Soft2Bet, SPRIBE, GammaStack, GR8 Tech, Upgames, SmartSoft, 1xBet, EGT. BetConstruct returns as the event's Lead Partner and KPMG US has once again been appointed as the independent voting adjudicator.
The winners will be chosen by a panel of 50 senior industry leaders with expertise in the EMEA market, with only one executive per company allowed to cast a vote.
The full Shortlist across all categories will be published in the coming days on the event's official website.
The winners will be revealed at an invite-only ceremony on Day 1 of ICE 2026 in Barcelona.
Every company and individual is always shortlisted for the Global Gaming Awards based on merit with the reason for their nomination made publicly available in the official Shortlist magazine. The winners are chosen by senior industry executives with KPMG US independently adjudicating the voting process.
