GVC appoints new PartyPoker chairman

of Man-listed gaming group GVC has confirmed the appointment of Mike Sexton as the chairman of its PartyPoker brand.

In his new role, Sexton will be charged with improving software and marketing, customer services and stopping third party software from giving players an unfair advantage.

He will also develop the PartyPoker Live brand and look to explore ways of rewarding and maintaining PartyPoker’s existing customer base.

Sexton co-founded PartyPoker in 2001 before serving as brand ambassador and notably as a player/commentator on the World Series of Poker, being inducted into the Poker Hall of Fame in 2009.

He also created PokerGives.org, a not for profit organisation that offers poker players an easier way to give to charity.

In a statement released on the PartyPoker website confirming his appointment Mike Sexton said: “This is an emotional time for me, because I have decided to leave the World Poker Tour to focus on this new role.

“I was at PartyPoker from the start, before there was even a name or a single virtual card was dealt. It was devastating for me to see the decline of PartyPoker when we were forced to pull out of the US and then watch from the sidelines as our competitors remained and benefited from our customer base.

“I am really looking forward to working with people that love the game like I do; we are not aiming for second place, we are all in.”

Tom Waters, Managing Director of PartyPoker welcomed the appointment of Sexton: “I am absolutely delighted that Mike has decided to come on board as our chairman; we are all dedicated to make PartyPoker the site for the players and having his support to make this happen gets us one step closer.”