Champion Gaming (TSX-V:WAGR) Group Inc. has announced a number of management and board changes, effective June 3, 2022, including a new chief executive officer (CEO).
The sports content, data and analytics company said it appointed Graham Simmonds as CEO and a director of the company, replacing Ken Hershman who has resigned from the CEO role.
"I am pleased to become more involved with Champion Gaming on a day-to-day basis. These management changes will allow for our key team members to remain involved with the company as we embark on a significant growth trajectory heading into football season, which will be the ultimate focus of the company over the next few months,” Graham Simmonds, the new CEO, said in a statement.
“This also allows the Company to develop a more efficient operating structure and will allow us to focus our resources on our core assets and the development of additional content and distribution opportunities to support these endeavors," he added.
READ: Champion Gaming partners with Hudl to bring in-game analysis to high school football coaches
Simmonds, an entrepreneur with a diverse background in consumer-driven businesses, founded and took public three companies over the past 15 years in the gaming, cannabis and financial technology sectors. He has over 20 years of general experience in public company management and business development. He has also been licensed/registered with a number of horse racing and gaming commissions in the US and Canada.
The other main change is the appointment of Cameron Wickham as the company's interim chief financial officer and corporate secretary.
Wickham has served as a director of Champion Gaming since March 2021 and has over nine years of experience in public company management and has been involved in a number of going public transactions in Canada and the US in the cannabis, consumer finance and other regulated sectors. He specializes in navigating early-stage financing structures, M&A and ongoing management of public companies having significant experience in managing corporate finance, audit and legal teams. Wickham currently serves as executive vice-chair and chief executive officer of Delota Corp an established cannabis and vape retailer; and as chief financial officer of Baymount Incorporated.
The change comes after John Barkeley resigned as Champion Gaming's chief financial officer and corporate secretary. Sean O'Leary has also resigned as the company's president, Frank Frigo resigned as its chief innovation officer and Paxton Baker resigned as a director, effective immediately. Hershman and O'Leary will continue to serve as directors of the company with Hershman appointed vice-chairman of the board.
Hershman commented: "On behalf of Champion Gaming, I would like to thank Mr Barkeley and Mr Baker for their valuable contributions to the company and we wish them success in their future endeavors.”
“We are pleased to retain Mr O'Leary as a director and Mr Frigo as an advisor to the company who were co-founders of EdjSports LLC that Champion Gaming acquired through the reverse takeover completed in December 2021,” he added.
Champion Gaming is a sports content, data and analytics company that provides predictive and prescriptive analytical models and win probability applications and statistics in the sports industry for teams, media, fans, and bettors.
Contact the author at jon.hopkins@proactiveinvestors.com