Casinos Austria and Austrian Lotteries: Supervisory Board sets course for the Group’s future success
At today’s meetings of the Casinos Austria AG and Österreichische Lotterien GesmbH Supervisory Boards and between the main owners Allwyn and ÖBAG, significant decisions were made regarding the Group’s future.
First, the contracts of the two Board Members Erwin van Lambaart as CEO and Martin Skopek as CFO were extended until 2027. The two main owners, Allwyn and ÖBAG, will discuss their continued membership of the Management Board beyond the second quarter of 2027 with both Board Members, in order to ensure the stability and continuity of business operations during the coming licence period.
A further step taken by the Supervisory Board was the appointment of Andreas Bierwirth as the third member of the Executive Board, with the title of Chief Transformation Officer (CTO), effective October 1.
The Group has recently shown very positive performance: the Group has overcome the political and media challenges of the past, and management can once again focus fully on its current core tasks. With regard to the further digital development of the range of gaming offered, the Group has successfully launched its first initiatives such as the opening of a new online live casino. The Group was confronted with particular challenges in terms of the need to carry out a rapid Group reorganisation, which it handled successfully and which had been necessitated by massive, unexpected tax increases. The Group is well on track despite the difficult overall economic situation.
Nevertheless, there are major challenges ahead. This applies in particular to all issues relating to further digitalisation and the renewals of all of the gaming licences, which are due to be reissued next year.
By expanding staffing and adding expertise at the Management Board level, the Group has put a strong management team in place which optimally positions it to face these challenges. CEO Erwin van Lambaart will now be able to focus fully on all of the domestic business matters, including the upcoming licence renewals and positioning of the Group.
CFO Martin Skopek remains responsible for finance, as well as the important area of lottery operations, including online business and IT.
In his new role, Andreas Bierwirth will be focussing primarily on the digital development of the Group as well as Group-wide process and project management, in addition to the international casino business (CAI). His appointment demonstrates the Group’s unconditional commitment to digitalisation, innovation and sustainable development, areas to which he brings a wealth of expertise from his professional career to date.
This decision is based on the continued strong commitment of the two main shareholders, Allwyn and ÖBAG, to the Group within Austria and at its business locations here. The Group’s intention is to optimally position these businesses, which are of major importance to Austria as a business location, for success over the next decade.
AR President Wolfgang Hesoun had this to say: “I am delighted that the Supervisory Boards were able to unanimously set the course for the Group’s future today. With the extension of the existing management contracts and the addition of Andreas Bierwirth to the Management Board, the Group now has an outstanding trio at its helm that will be best positioned to tackle the challenges of the future.”
Allwyn’s CEO Robert Chvatal stated: “As a leading global lottery provider, the importance of the digital development of our holdings is of particular concern to us, in order to ensure the best possible experience for all our customers. We’re delighted to welcome Andreas Bierwirth on board. His impressive track record in complex corporate transformations and his in-depth commercial knowledge will be invaluable to Erwin and Martin as they work together to shape the future of the Group. In addition, CEO Erwin van Lambaart can focus fully on renewing all of the licences, which is of utmost importance to us all.”
ÖBAG’s CEO Edith Hlawati added: “It was very important to us at ÖBAG to ensure stability and a clear commitment to Austria as a business location in difficult times. This was something we had already achieved with the help of our previous Board members, and the new Management Board constellation will now be able to set a clear course for the future of Casinos Austria AG.”
Andreas Bierwirth – CV Summary:
Doctorate in Economics at the University of Münster. In addition, he trained as a bank clerk and holds a commercial pilot’s licence for fixed-wing planes and helicopters.
His management activities as CEO, Co-CEO and Managing Director included significant transformation agendas, including the establishment of Germanwings as the first German low-cost airline as well as the privatisation of Austrian Airlines and its integration into the Lufthansa Group. After ten years as a manager in the aviation sector, he spent another ten years in telecommunications. This is where he transformed the mobile phone operator T-Mobile into Magenta, following the takeover of UPC. This was followed by a one-year position at Erste Bank AG, where he was responsible for the retail business. He spent another year as CEO of a medium-sized aviation company before focusing on his own investment agenda.
In addition to his operational duties, Bierwirth is Chairman of the Supervisory Board of Do&CO AG and a Member of the Board of Finnair. Previously, he was a Member of the Board of EasyJet PLC and Casinos Austria AG, among others.