Swedish trade association names Maria Wennerberg Sedigh as new CEO

Wennerberg Sedigh will replace Jenny Nilzon in March, with the latter having announced her departure from SPER after five years in the job.

Wennerberg Sedigh has been a senior adviser at SPER for the past four years and has many years of experience in gaming regulation from both the Lottery Inspectorate and the Ministry of Finance.

She also worked in the Gaming License Inquiry, which produced a proposal for new gaming regulation that resulted in the Swedish Gambling Act and a new licensed framework from January 2019.

Wennerberg Sedigh said: “It feels exciting, and I am happy to have gained the trust. I will continue to develop SPER’s work with self-regulation, consumer protection and industry confidence. This is a big and fun assignment.”

Wennerberg Sedigh will take up her position before SPER holds its annual meeting for members at the end of March. SPER’s members include Betsson, IGT, Svenska Spel and Yggdrasil.

Patrik Hofbauer, chairman of SPER and chief executive of Svenska Spel, said: “We on the board are extremely happy that Maria will be the one to lead SPER further. She has a unique knowledge of the industry and I look forward to our collaboration.”