Aristocrat Leisure has announced that CEO and Managing Director Trevor Croker will retire in April 2027, with Dafne Guisard appointed as his successor, subject to regulatory approvals.
The gaming supplier confirmed that Guisard, who joined its executive team in February 2026, will assume the position following a leadership transition.
Currently serving as Chief Commercial Officer for Europe, the Middle East and Africa (EMEA), Guisard also oversees Aristocrat's Product Madness social casino business, which generated more than US$1bn in revenue during FY2025.
Before joining Aristocrat, she served as Chief Operating Officer at Entain from January 2025 to February 2026, overseeing operations across more than 30 regulated markets.
Her previous positions include senior strategy and digital transformation roles at Kraft Heinz and commercial leadership positions at Anheuser-Busch InBev.
Guisard will relocate from London to Las Vegas to take up her new role, while Croker will remain with Aristocrat and support the transition for 12 months from the announcement.
The appointment follows a board-led succession process that considered both internal and external candidates.
Under the agreed employment terms, Guisard will receive annual fixed remuneration of US$1.05m, alongside short-term and long-term performance incentives. Her FY2027 short-term incentive target is set at 1.5 times her fixed remuneration, while her long-term incentive target is three times her annual salary.
Croker's departure will conclude more than 18 years in senior leadership at Aristocrat, including over a decade as CEO.
During his tenure, the company's market capitalisation increased fourfold to almost AU$40bn, while adjusted earnings per share recorded a compound annual growth rate of 15%.
Croker also served as Chairman of the American Gaming Association, alongside overseeing Aristocrat's expansion across regulated gaming markets.
Aristocrat Chairman Neil Chatfield said the internal appointment would support continuity as the company prepares for its next phase of development.
Aristocrat's market capitalisation has quadrupled to almost AU$40bn (US$27.3bn) during Croker's tenure
