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Codere hands senior commercial role to Carabante

| By Robert Fletcher
Codere Group has announced another senior appointment by bringing in Sonia Carabante as corporate director of commercial strategy and business projects.
Codere Sonia Carabante

Reporting directly to chief executive Gonzaga Higuero, Carabante will oversee the execution of key commercial strategy projects at Codere.

Carabante will also lead efficiency, transformation and implementation projects for local strategies and projects. In addition, she will play a role in Codere’s marketing, CRM and product functions, supporting the group’s wider growth plans.

An experienced professional, Carabante joins after a spell as executive director of corporate services at Spanish government-owned CTTI.

Prior to this, Carabante worked at Spanish casino operator Cirsa for almost 15 years. Here, she worked in a number of roles including director of customer intelligence, efficiency and productivity.

Earlier in her career, Carabante also spent time at General Electric and La Sirena, and had another spell with CTTI.

“With this appointment, Codere reaffirms its commitment to excellence in its business strategy and its determination to drive growth and efficiency in all areas of the organisation,” Codere said.

“Sonia’s leadership and experience will be fundamental pillars for the company’s continued success.”

Incoming senior staff at Codere

Carabante becomes the latest senior appointment at Codere, following the addition of other new staff in recent weeks.

Earlier this month, Higuero was confirmed as Codere’s new CEO. He has been tasked with leading Codere’s growth plans across its core operating markets.

Higuero joins Codere after a spell as CEO of Health Transportation Group. Prior to this, he spent 10 years working for Prosegur Cash, holding senior roles such as managing director for Europe and managing director of south Latin America.

Meanwhile, Codere this week also named Luis Villalba as its new chief financial officer. He replaces Óscar Fernández de Llano, who recently stepped down from the position due to personal reasons.

Villalba will lead Codere’s financial strategy and support the business in strengthening its investor relations. 

He joins Codere after serving as CFO and a member of the executive committee at Deoleo Group. Villalba also spent over 17 years at PricewaterhouseCoopers, working across audit, transaction services and business recovery services.  

Codere in June also added Michal Elimelech to its board of directors.

The change in senior management followed Codere Online reporting a lower net loss and widespread growth in Q1.

Codere posted year-on-year growth across all its operating markets in the three months to 31 March. Each regional operation experienced a double-digit increase in revenue.

Total revenue was up 54.9% year-on-year.

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