New CEO at PokerStars
Rational Group, the company behind PokerStars and Full Tilt, name Rafi Ashkenazi as the new CEO.
Ashkenazi joined Rational Group in 2013 as the Chief Operating Officer, responsible for all customer facing product functions, having previously done the same role for Playtech. He has now stepped into the role of CEO.
“Rafi has been working very closely this year with our executive management team and returns to Rational Group with an even greater knowledge of our corporate strategy, vision and goals,” said Amaya Inc. CEO David Baazov. “Combining this knowledge with his operational expertise makes him an ideal leader for the Rational Group.”
“I look forward to re-joining the excellent team at Rational Group and working with them to continue to extend our leadership in online gaming,” Ashkenazi said. “We have great opportunities in the near future with our upcoming launch in New Jersey, the expansion of our casino and sports-betting businesses and our mission to grow the poker category.”
Ashkenazi will replace previous CEO Michael Hazel.
This appointment is the latest in a long series of major changes at PokerStars and Full Tilt since Amaya Inc acquired them in August 2014. It comes in a week when the company has had perhaps their biggest shake-up to date, the overhaul of the PokerStars VIP system.
