Bede Gaming brings in Colin Cole-Johnson as new CEO

Cole-Johnson will assume his new role from 4 April, joining the business from Entain where he had served as gaming product director for two and a half years.

Having spent more than 20 years working in the gambling sector, Cole-Johnson also spent just under five years as group director for digital and cross channel services at the Rank Group.

Prior to this, he spent almost six and a half years at William Hill, first as egaming director and later director of customer intelligence.

Cole-Johnson began his career in the gambling industry with a 13-and-a-half-year spell as director of gaming for Ladbrokes.

“It’s a proud moment for me; Bede is a company that I’ve gotten to know well and admire over a significant period, so this is a brilliant opportunity to join and lead a strong team with a proven track record,” Cole-Johnson said.

“Their achievements over recent years speak for themselves and the potential for the future is really exciting.”

Bede Gaming chairman Joe Saumarez Smith added: “We are delighted that Colin has agreed to become CEO of Bede. He is an industry-leading executive with a proven track record at some of the biggest gaming companies in the world. 

“He already knows Bede’s industry-leading platform from his days as a client and we have no doubt that he will help the company further grow its position as the first-choice gaming platform in regulated markets.”

Bede, which also announced managing director Alex Butcher will become a non-executive director of the provider, operates as part of the Gauselmann Group, having become part of the business in March 2020.