PokerStars introduces new CEO

Rafi Ashkenazi was appointed to the new CEO of Rational Group - the company that owns such brands as PokerStars and Full Tilt.

Ashkenazi joined the Rational Group team in 2013 as a chief operations officer and took charge of company products meant for clients. Earlier he used to do the same job for Playtech. And now he was announced the CEO.

“This year Rafi cooperated closely with the top-management of the company and he is even more aware of the corporate strategy, vision and goals,” - shared David Baazov, CEO of Amaya Inc. - “Combination of this knowledge together with skills and experience in this operational field makes him a perfect leader for Rational Group”.

“I’m very happy to become a member of such excellent team as Rational Group and help to maintain our leading positions in online-gaming community,” – Ashkenazi said. – “We’ll be facing splendid opportunities in the nearest future. What I’m having in mind is the opening in New Jersey, the development and enlargement of the casino department along with the department of bookmaker operations and the last but no the least the desire to cultivate poker component”.

Ashkenazi will be taking over from Michael Hized - former CEO.