Vyking recruits new CTO, João Soares
Vyking, the iGaming platform provider, has hired João Soares as its new Chief Technology Officer, with Helmut Kleinhans moving into a new role.
Key points:
– Soares will succeed Helmut Kleinhans as Vyking Chief Technology Officer
– Kleinhans moves into Chief Software Architect role
– New recruit has experience at BetVictor and William Hill
The iGaming platform provider Vyking has appointed João Soares to the role of Chief Technology Officer.
Franz Gerhart, Vyking CEO, welcomed him to the company, saying: “João brings the perfect blend of technical expertise, leadership capability, and proven industry experience. His track record of scaling engineering teams and driving transformation at leading operators will be invaluable as Vyking enters its next phase of growth.”
Soares will be stepping into the role having been out of the gaming industry for around three years, though at White Hat Gaming he served as Head of Engineering and he previously spent more than seven years in tech roles at BetVictor and William Hill.
Helmut Kleinhans, the former CTO, will be repositioned at Vyking as Chief Software Architect.
Of Kleinhans’ switch, Gerhart added: “This transition reflects his passion for deep technology and innovation, enabling him to focus on advanced engineering across the wider business.”
Good to know: Gambling Insider caught up with Franz Gerhart in Malta to discuss the company’s approach towards platform personalisation
At BetVictor, Soares led the launch of eight native mobile apps for iOS and Android, and has plenty of experience taking on leadership responsibilities during technological transformations.
On his ambitions in his new post, he said: “My goal is to help accelerate innovation, build high-performing teams and ensure Vyking continues to set new standards for iGaming technology.”
In July 2025, Vyking partnered with Oracle to help power the next phase of its iGaming infrastructure.
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