Aristocrat Gaming names Joe Kaminkow as its new Chief Innovation Officer

Aristocrat Gaming announced Monday that executive Joe Kaminkow has taken on a new, expanded position with the company as Chief Innovation Officer. In this role, Kaminkow will help drive innovation across the Aristocrat enterprise, including in new gaming products and mobile game genres, "while further growing the group's capabilities and fostering world-class talent."

The appointment extends Kaminkow's long association with Aristocrat Gaming, dating back to his initial appointment as SVP of Game Development in 2013. Kaminkow will report to the Chief Product Officer of Aristocrat Gaming Matt Primmer, while working with teams across Aristocrat Gaming, Pixel United, and Anaxi (Aristocrat's Online RMG business).  

Hector Fernandez, CEO of Aristocrat Gaming, commented: "We are delighted that someone of Joe's caliber will be working full-time across the company to champion innovation, helping us to further penetrate growth opportunities and develop even more outstanding talent within our business."

Hector Fernandez

"As a valued colleague and contributor to our success for almost a decade, Joe's brilliance and creativity are well-known to us at Aristocrat Gaming and across the industry. In this newly dedicated role, we look forward to Joe's focused efforts to help our teams take their product portfolios to the next level," he added.

Kaminkow previously served as Chief Creative Officer at Zynga, where he led the development of social games, and was the original creator "of several successful game titles." Joe holds over 130 patents throughout the fields of game design, operations, and networks, and has either created or contributed game design intellectual property to more than 1,500 games across multiple game formats and markets.

"I am thrilled to expand my commitment to Aristocrat in a dedicated, full-time role, enabling me to devote my creative energies to all areas of the Group's ongoing growth and success," Kaminkow said. "I have been so impressed with the talent and drive of our employees over the past nine years and am excited to help Aristocrat take its next steps forward."

Joe Kaminkow is described by Aristocrat as a renowned game designer who is credited with "pioneering the use of licensed brands and bringing new cabinet form factors to the casino floor." He has been inducted into the Pinball Hall of Fame, the American Gaming Association's Hall of Fame, and the EKG Hall of Fame, as well as being named a "Top Ten Most Influential Person in Gaming" by Strictly Slots Magazine. 

"Kaminkow has created some of the industry's most successful slot games, along with several hit free-to-play, mobile social casino games," the company noted.