IGSA announces new members for its Board, names Mark Pace as President

The International Gaming Standards Association (IGSA) has announced that its members have appointed Mark Pace as President. Pace has been in the gaming industry for over 35 years and has been part of IGSA for over 20 years, acting as Committee Chair, Board Member, Treasurer, and Vice-Chairman of the Board, before joining IGSA as the Managing Director of GSA Europe and Vice President of IGSA.

The association informed that Pace will also retain his responsibilities as Managing Director of GSA Europe. In addition, IGSA has elected its Board of Directors for 2024. Following the election process, the Board of Directors met to select its Chair and Vice Chair.

The newly appointed members and appointees are as follows:

• Chairman: Nimish Purohit, Vice President of Product Resilience, Aristocrat Gaming
• Vice Chairman: Martin Pedak, Director of Technical Compliance, Playtech
• Treasurer: Paul Burns, ALC (Ex-officio, retired)
• Members:
  Syed Hussain, Chief Information Officer, Oregon Lottery
  Keshav Pitani, Vice President, Research & Development, Light & Wonder

“On behalf of the entire management team I would like to congratulate and thank our elected 2024 board members,” said Pace. “I am deeply honored to take over from our long-time President Peter DeRaedt, who has graciously agreed to remain a part of the association providing advice whenever needed. I am very excited to get to work with our new Board and our members to identify areas and set up committees to create standards and best practices in support of our industry’s needs.”

“Having Nimish move from Vice Chair to Chair is terrific,” said Pace. “His background as a former U.S. federal and state gaming regulator, along with his experience on the commercial side, gives him the ability to understand issues holistically as he leads the Board. We are equally excited that Martin has stepped up to the Vice Chair role. 

Pace also highlighted that IGSA's focus this year is going to be on identifying where the creation of standards and best practices, especially as they relate to new technologies, can add value to its members and benefit the industry as a whole.

"We will also seek to strengthen our collaboration with other industry associations and with worldwide regulatory associations to define how these technologies should be implemented, utilized, and regulated," the new President added. "The Board and IGSA are well poised to deliver exceptional results.”

“I am honored and excited to represent IGSA’s global membership,” said Purohit. “Our industry is transforming rapidly across both the online and land-based space. The need for standards and best practices to align with regulated products is vital now, more than ever. I look forward to IGSA continuing to work with regulatory authorities whose challenges I understand well to help deliver solutions that drive efficiency, and transparency and enhance gaming integrity.”

“I want to thank outgoing Chairman Earle Hall for his transformative leadership and Board of Directors participation across the past four years,” said Purohit. “We appreciate his energy and dedication, and he can be proud of the legacy he leaves behind with the Board and the Association.”