At an extraordinary Supervisory Board meeting today, Erwin van Lambaart, a casino manager with substantial international experience, was appointed as the new CEO of Casinos Austria AG. Van Lambaart, a Dutch national, is currently CEO of Holland Casino and will join the board on 14 March 2022, taking up the position of General Manager on 1 April 2022.
The appointment of van Lambaart concludes a transparent candidate search which the Supervisory Board conducted in line with international standards in recent months, with the assistance of the renowned HR consultant Spencer Stuart. Glatz-Kremsner had announced in March 2021 that she would no longer be available for a contract extension as CEO.
The Nominations Committee screened, reviewed and evaluated numerous national and international candidates based on strict criteria defined by the Games of Chance Act. A total of three persons whose applications were of outstanding quality were invited to interviews before the Nominations Committee. Erwin van Lambaart emerged in the unanimous view of the Committee as the best candidate to succeed Bettina Glatz-Kremsner. The nominee also introduced himself to the entire CASAG and Lotteries Supervisory Board today. The CASAG Supervisory Board, chaired by Wolfgang Hesoun, followed the recommendation of the Nominations Committee and unanimously elected Erwin van Lambaart as the new CEO of Casinos Austria AG.
The Nominations Committee established objective criteria for its search for a new CEO candidate. Those criteria included significant professional experience in the industry as well as clearly defined requirements under the exacting provisions of the Games of Chance Act. The CEO search was carried out on the basis of a standardised process governed by the syndicate agreement between the Sazka Group and ÖBAG, which forms the basis for trust-based collaboration at owner level.
"The syndicate agreement between ÖBAG and the Sazka Group has facilitated strong and coordinated cooperation at owner level and strengthened governance. I am delighted that in Erwin van Lambaart, we have been able to engage a manager of international repute for the future of Casinos Austria AG. Erwin van Lambaart is an experienced expert with a comprehensive understanding of the gaming industry. With his many years of experience at the state-owned Holland Casino, which operates 14 casinos, he will work together with staff on the further development of CASAG. We would like to express our deep gratitude to Bettina Glatz-Kremsner, who has shaped Casinos Austria for more than 30 years and supported us with her expertise," ÖBAG board member Christine Catasta stated.
"With the election of Erwin van Lambaart as the new CEO of CASAG, we have clearly demonstrated the new style and approach of the shareholders in connection with the appointment of CASAG board members. The entire search process was fully transparent, with the key criteria for CASAG’s new CEO being professional experience and a deep understanding of the industry. Erwin van Lambaart was approached by Spencer Stuart because he perfectly fits the criteria for the role of CEO. Erwin van Lambaart brings excellent professional qualifications and outstanding industry experience and this is the basis from which he will lead Casinos Austria AG. I am very pleased that the appointment of Erwin van Lambaart has been well received by both the shareholders' and the employees' representatives. Finally, I would like to thank Bettina Glatz-Kremsner for her many years of excellent work for the company," Robert Chvatal, CEO of the Sazka Group, said.
"After the difficulties of the past, it was very crucial to set up a transparent process for the appointment of the board of directors in line with international standards. In Erwin van Lambaart, we have now been able to attract an excellent manager for the position of CEO. I would like to express my sincere thanks to Bettina Glatz-Kremsner, who has shaped the company over many years and played a major role in the successful development of the entire group," Supervisory Board President Wolfgang Hesoun stated.
"I would like to express my thanks for the trust placed in me by the Supervisory Board and the owners. Casinos Austria enjoys an excellent reputation in the international gaming industry, which we will continue to build on together with our management and staff in the years to come. I am therefore very much looking forward to the tasks ahead of me. Together, we will provide our guests and players with the best gaming experience, hospitality and entertainment, with a focus on the highest security standards and responsible gaming. I will bring all my experience to bear in order to make a sustainable contribution to the prosperity of the Group, together with its employees, in these challenging times. It will be a great pleasure for me to live and work in Austria," says Erwin van Lambaart about his new role.
"I am glad that, in Erwin van Lambaart, the Group has opted for a casino manager with international experience. After more than 30 years in the company, it was and is a particular concern of mine that I should be able to place my role into a safe pair of hands, and I will ensure the best possible handover," the current CEO Bettina Glatz-Kremsner states as she welcomes her successor.
About Erwin van Lambaart
Erwin van Lambaart has been CEO of Holland Casino since 2016 and is a proven expert in the casino and gaming industry. He has successfully led Holland Casino through a restructuring process and has been instrumental in positioning the company as one of the Netherlands‘ best. The state-owned Holland Casino operates 14 terrestrial casinos across the country and also operates an online gaming platform. Erwin van Lambaart is one of the top managers in this sector in Europe. Prior to that, the experienced manager gained significant experience in the event and hotel industry and enjoyed much entrepreneurial success as the CEO of the Dutch media and entertainment company Niehe Media and as a member of the board of the live entertainment company Stage Entertainment. Erwin van Lambaart is fluent in German and English.