Svenska Spel promotes Franzén to IT director role

Svenska Spel has appointed Mikael Franzén as the company’s new IT director, replacing Jörgen Olofsson in the role.

Franzén currently serves as vice president of Svenska Spel’s Sport & Casino igaming subsidiary, responsible for its B2B pool betting offering. He will assume his new position on September 1, 2019, joining the operator’s management team and reporting directly to chief executive Patrik Hofbauer.

“I am very happy to welcome Mikael Franzén to his new role of IT director,” Hofbauer said. “I am also proud that we have found an internal candidate [for the role], as it proves that we have solid competence within the business.

“Mikael’s extensive experience of both Svenska Spel and the gaming industry will be valuable in the continued development of our business,” he added.

Franzén has worked in the gaming sector since 1993, first joining the Penninglotteriet, which was then merged with state-owned betting operator Tipstjänst to create Svenska Spel in 1997. Since then he has held a number of roles within the business, working on the development and launch of its igaming offering.

“I am very pleased to be trusted to lead Svenska Spel's IT team,” Franzén  said of his new role. “They are the ones who together develop, implement and manage the solutions that enable Svenska Spel to offer customers fun and exciting gaming experiences in a safe and responsible manner.

“I hope to contribute with my long experience of the gaming industry and my insights into what is required to create a competitive offering in an increasingly digitised and fast-paced gaming market,” he added.