Gambling Insider and the Global Gaming Awards Asia-Pacific are delighted to unveil this year’s Shortlist for the Executive of the Year category. 

The Global Gaming Awards have earned the reputation of the most prestigious Awards in the gaming industry, due to the strict shortlisting and voting processes implemented. Each company and individual are always shortlisted for a specific reason which is released publicly, in the official Shortlist magazine, which you will be able to read here on GamblingInsider.com at the start of May. 

A panel of senior industry executives, all with vast knowledge and years of experience in the APAC gaming industry, will be choosing the winners with KPMG in the Crown Dependencies independently adjudicating the entire voting process to ensure fairness and transparency. Members of the Judging Panel are excluded from voting in categories where they have a conflict of interest. 

“Congratulations to the eight executives, shortlisted this year. Your efforts push not just your companies but the entire industry forward,” said Mariya Savova, Event Manager of the Global Gaming Awards. 

“From what we’ve seen in the past, executives always share the credit for their nomination with their teams, so a special shout-out to their hard-working colleagues,” she added. 

Following two virtual editions, the Global Gaming Awards are heading to Manila this June. Suppliers and operators will be rewarded across 11 categories. 

The presentation ceremony will be held on Day 2 of the SiGMA Asia Summit, 4 June, at the Conrad Manila. Companies can purchase their tables at the luncheon via the event’s official website. The ceremony will be live streamed on Gambling Insider’s LinkedIn from 1pm local time for those that can’t be in attendance. 

It is our pleasure to now share with you this year's Shortlist for Executive of the Year, with the reason why each person has been nominated. Listed in no particular order, this year’s nominees are: 

Jaclyn Wood, CEO, The Lottery Office: Exemplifying exceptional leadership, unwavering commitment and unparalleled team engagement truly define The Lottery Office CEO. Under her guidance, the company has achieved exponential growth across Australia within 5 years, a testament to her visionary leadership and ability to inspire greatness in others.  

Joe Pisano, Founder & CEO, Jade Entertainment and Gaming Technologies: Pisano's popularity and acclaim within the industry continue to grow. Driven by a desire to create jobs for talented people, he has led investment in both Jade's marketing and product development, with plans including fantasy products in the Philippines and Sri Lanka. In the past 12 months, he secured Jade’s partnerships with Velvix, Ace Ascot and Jackpot Digital, and the launch of Jade SportsBet’s retail outlet at NUSTAR. 

Hubert Wang, President & COO, MGM China: An executive who vows to listen to his employees and who has championed the value of diversifying Macau's economy. Wang oversaw huge growth in 2023, with $983m in Q4 revenue boosting MGM Resorts' revenue as a whole – not just MGM China's – by 22%. He is also a key proponent of Macau's mass gaming, projecting a future that yields greater profits and focuses less on VIPs. 

Jessica Mellor, CEO, The Star Gold Coast: The popular executive was, in 2023, appointed CEO of the Star Gold Coast – after nearly five years as COO. Mellor played a key role in guiding The Star Gold Coast through the Covid-19 pandemic, keeping it resilient, and has received industry-wide plaudits following her promotion to managing a team of over 2,500. In January, Mellor oversaw the Star Gold Coast Magic Millions Carnival and hosted the Women with Horsepower event. 

Ken Jolly, Managing Director - Asia, Light & Wonder: Jolly’s global experience in the gaming industry has spanned over 40 years, making him one of the most recognizable industry figures. He is coming off a highlight year from an already storied career. Thanks to his efforts, Asia has become the fastest-growing market for the company. He presided over record-setting growth to establish Light & Wonder as the number 1 supplier in Asia. 

Alejandro H. Tengco, Chairman & CEO, PAGCOR: Since taking on the Chairman & CEO role at PAGCOR in 2022, Tengco has made great efforts in building a good relationship with licensees as well as with the gaming industry as a whole, often participating at industry events around the globe. Under his leadership PAGCOR started strengthening its regulatory function and has promoted the privatization of PAGCOR-run Casino Filipino facilities. Tengo and his team are also actively working on programs to make the Philippines a leading gaming destination in the ASEAN region. 

Lloyd Robson, General Manager - Asia, Aristocrat Gaming: Known for leading high-performing teams, Robson is a significant contributor to the Asian gaming industry. As a board member of the Macau Gaming Equipment Manufacturers Association, he actively collaborates with the wider industry. Committed to CSR, Robson leads his team to partner with non-profits across Asia. A career milestone of his is scaling the company’s presence in the Philippines. 

Estella Tuason–Occeña, EVP, CFO & Treasurer, Bloomberry Resorts Corporation: Ms.Tuason–Occeña has been part of Bloomberry Resorts’ leadership team for over a decade now and is one of the company’s driving forces, playing a crucial role in articulating the company's short-term and long-term strategies. She’s already been recognized for her continued efforts on multiple occasions, having been named “Asia's Best CFO” several times. 

The Global Gaming Awards are powered by Gambling Insider and Gaming America. BetConstruct is the event’s Lead Partner and other event sponsors include Interblock Gaming, Light & Wonder, Z-Gaming, SPRIBE and Aristocrat Gaming. 

After the Global Gaming Awards Asia-Pacific in Manila, Gambling Insider is heading to Las Vegas in October for the eleventh edition of our flagship Global Gaming Awards Americas event. Companies have until next Friday, 26 April, to submit their nominations for the Americas event on the official website.