Light & Wonder's CEO Barry Cottle departs; new interim chief named as search for permanent boss begins

Light & Wonder, the gaming products and services provider formerly known as Scientific Games Corporation, announced Monday that Matt Wilson, Executive Vice President and Group Chief Executive of Gaming, has been appointed interim Chief Executive Officer while also continuing in his current role. In connection with the appointment, Barry Cottle has stepped down as President and Chief Executive Officer and a member of the company’s Board of Directors, and will support "a seamless transition as a consultant."

In a press release, the company stated that the Board has "commenced a search process to identify a permanent CEO and has engaged a leading national executive search firm." They explained that the search "builds on the Board’s well-established succession planning process" and will include both internal and external candidates.

Jamie Odell, Light & Wonder's Executive Chair 

Jamie Odell, Executive Chair of Light & Wonder, said: "As we enter the next chapter of our growth journey as the leading cross-platform global game company, we are confident that now is the right time to make this leadership transition."

"Our Executive Vice Chair, Toni Korsanos, and I have worked closely with Matt for over 10 years, including most recently as he has successfully worked to turn around and reposition Light & Wonder’s Gaming business for long-term growth. We are confident that his strategic insights, deep industry knowledge, rich experience, and impressive track record make him the ideal person to serve as interim CEO during this transition period," he added.

Matt Wilson, Executive Vice President and Group Chief Executive of Gaming

The company described Wilson as a "seasoned executive" with nearly 20 years of gaming industry experience and a proven record of driving growth and creating value. In his role as Light & Wonder’s Executive Vice President and Group Chief Executive of Gaming, he led the strategic growth plans for the Gaming team while overseeing product development, production, supply chain, and sales of the company’s Gaming products, systems, and services.

Prior to joining Light & Wonder, Wilson served as President and Managing Director of Americas at Aristocrat. During his tenure with Aristocrat, he also served as Senior Vice President of Global Gaming Operations, and Senior Vice President of Sales and Marketing, Americas. He holds a Bachelor of Commerce from the University of Wollongong and completed the Advanced Management Program at Wharton Business School.

Wilson commented: "I am honored to take on the role of interim CEO during this exciting time for our company. With a streamlined organization, sharpened strategic focus, and strengthened balance sheet, we are now better positioned than ever to capitalize on the incredible opportunities ahead for the business. I look forward to working closely with the rest of the leadership team in this new capacity as we continue to accelerate our progress as a sustainable growth company."

Barry Cottle, former President and CEO

Finally, Odell paid tribute to the former President and CEO's efforts, thanking him for his years of service: "We thank Barry for all of his contributions to the fundamental reshaping of the company that has positioned it for continued success."

"With our transformed balance sheet, continued strong business momentum and great progress executing on our capital allocation priorities, we see a tremendous opportunity to drive shareholder value. We look forward to working closely with Matt and the rest of the management team as we continue to execute on our strategic roadmap and deliver on our growth targets," he concluded.