Gambling.com announces new CEO appointment amid leadership shakeup following record Q4

(AsiaGameHub) –   Gambling.com Group has announced a significant leadership reshuffle, with co-founder and current Chief Operating Officer Kevin McCrystle stepping into the Chief Executive Officer role.

McCrystle will succeed fellow co-founder Charles Gillespie, who will transition to the firm’s Executive Chairman position.

Slated for mid-May, the transition will conclude Gillespie’s 20-year tenure as CEO— a period during which he guided the company from its 2006 founding to its current status as a publicly traded global business.

In that time, Gambling.com has evolved into a technology firm spanning performance marketing and sports data services, operating in more than 20 regulated markets.

Michael Quartieri, Lead Independent Director, called Gillespie “one of the longest-serving and most successful CEOs in the history of the online gambling industry”.

“Under Charles’ guidance, Gambling.com Group has gone from a mere concept to the first publicly traded online gambling affiliate in the U.S.— now a large, highly profitable global marketing and data services business that has engaged millions of consumers and serves hundreds of online gaming companies,” he said.

“As Executive Chairman, Charles’ expertise and direction will still benefit the company— including through his active role in evaluating strategic M&A opportunities and keeping the company at the forefront of the AI revolution.

“On behalf of the Board of Directors, we sincerely thank Charles for his 20 years of exceptional service as our first and only CEO, and we look forward to his continued contributions in his role as Executive Chairman.”

In his new role as Executive Chairman, Gillespie will stay deeply involved in the company’s strategic direction— including mergers and acquisitions and its ongoing AI focus.

McCrystle, who co-founded the company with Gillespie, has served as COO since 2007 and overseen key revenue-driving functions like product, marketing, content, sales and technology.

He has also played a pivotal role in the company’s geographic expansion— including building its European operations in Ireland and subsequent growth in the U.S.

The board stressed that the leadership change represents continuity rather than a strategic shift, with Quartieri noting Gillespie and McCrystle have worked “in lockstep” since the company’s inception.

A new era for Gambling.com

The leadership reshuffle comes as Gambling.com enters what it describes as a new growth phase, fueled by the expansion of its sports data services and the increasing role of AI in its operations.

In remarks accompanying the announcement, McCrystle highlighted the company’s evolution through multiple stages— from startup to international expansion to public listing— and framed the transition as part of a larger shift toward long-term growth.

He explained: “With our fast-growing sports data services business, the ongoing diversification of our marketing business and the power of AI rapidly changing how we operate, it’s clear we are now in a new growth execution phase.

“As we continue to implement our strategic initiatives, I am energized to take on the CEO role and lead the entire company with our founder-driven values to best position Gambling.com Group for long-term growth.”

The change also comes just weeks after the Nasdaq-listed business released its FY25 results, reporting a year-over-year revenue increase of over 30% to $165.4m (£124.5m).

Adjusted EBITDA climbed 19% to $58m, and the business— which now employs hundreds of staff— said it expects 2026 revenues of $170m-$180m, with EBITDA between $50m-$58m.

The modest EBITDA growth may have contributed to dampened investor confidence, as Gambling.com’s share price has dropped around 10% since results were released on March 12— falling from $4.35 to $3.93.

Despite the leadership shift and stock decline, Gambling.com said its core strategy remains intact, centered on expanding its dual focus on marketing services and sports data.

The company operates a portfolio of consumer-facing brands, including Gambling.com, Bookies.com and Casinos.com, alongside data and analytics platforms such as OddsJam, OpticOdds and RotoWire.

Leadership remains confident in growth through its brands, and record Q4 revenue of over $35m supports that confidence.

On his move from CEO to Executive Chairman, Gillespie added: “I have spent my entire adult life building Gambling.com Group with Kevin, and I look forward to continuing to work closely with him as we enter the next phase of the company’s growth.

“As we keep growing our sports data services business, reinvent our marketing business and embrace an AI-driven future, now is the right time to refresh our leadership team and give our most talented leader full reins to drive all parts of the business.”