Kazuo Okada
Kazuo Okada
Kazuo Okada born in 1942. Established Universal Lease Co., Ltd. (ARUZE's predecessor) in 1973. Developed the world's first slot machine to utilize predetermined computer algorithms. Went on to greatly expand the amusement market through the successive release of hit entertainment devices both within and outside Japan. Led the entry into the casino hotel business in 2005 as a long-term strategic initiative. Has served as Chairman of the Board at ARUZE since June 2006.
Kazuo Okada born in 1942. Established Universal Lease Co., Ltd. (ARUZE's predecessor) in 1973. Developed the world's first slot machine to utilize predetermined computer algorithms. Went on to greatly expand the amusement market through the successive release of hit entertainment devices both within and outside Japan. Led the entry into the casino hotel business in 2005 as a long-term strategic initiative. Has served as Chairman of the Board at ARUZE since June 2006.
James Rutherford
James Rutherford
James Rutherford is the international editor for BNP Media Gaming Group and its flagship monthly, International Gaming & Wagering Business. In this role, he has covered the casino, gaming and betting markets extensively in Europe, the UK, Asia and the United States. His writing has appeared in numerous newspapers and magazines over a career spanning 22 years, including The New York Times, The Press of Atlantic City, Atlantic City Magazine and The Phila delphia Inquirer. Rutherford has been covering the gaming industry for more than ten years.
James Rutherford is the international editor for BNP Media Gaming Group and its flagship monthly, International Gaming & Wagering Business. In this role, he has covered the casino, gaming and betting markets extensively in Europe, the UK, Asia and the United States. His writing has appeared in numerous newspapers and magazines over a career spanning 22 years, including The New York Times, The Press of Atlantic City, Atlantic City Magazine and The Phila delphia Inquirer. Rutherford has been covering the gaming industry for more than ten years.
Dean M. MacomberDean M. Macomber
Dean M. Macomber has over 30 years of diversified gaming experienceranging from Dealer to President, development to operations, and pre-opening to post opening management. He has worked in numerous domestic and international venues in projects ranging from mega-destination resorts to locals-oriented casinos. Mr. Macomber is now a president of his own consulting firm, Macomber International, Inc. Mr. Macomber holds a masters degree from the School of Hotel Administration at Cornell University. He may be contacted by e-mail at macomberinc@aol.com.
Dean M. Macomber has over 30 years of diversified gaming experienceranging from Dealer to President, development to operations, and pre-opening to post opening management. He has worked in numerous domestic and international venues in projects ranging from mega-destination resorts to locals-oriented casinos. Mr. Macomber is now a president of his own consulting firm, Macomber International, Inc. Mr. Macomber holds a masters degree from the School of Hotel Administration at Cornell University. He may be contacted by e-mail at macomberinc@aol.com.
Kurt Quartier
Kurt Quartier
Kurt Quartier is IGT’s Vice President of International Casino Markets and is currently based out of Macau. As such he oversees the subsidiaries primarily responsible for IGT-International’s Casino markets in Europe, Russia, Asia and Africa. Quartier previously served as Managing Director of IGT-Europe for six years. He initially joined IGT in 1997 as Regional Sales Manager. Prior to joining IGT, he worked for the U.S.-based Casino Magic! Corporation as Operations Manager. He was part of the team that opened the first privately owned casinos in Greece. He started his gaming career with Sun International in South Africa some 18 years ago and held several management positions over the years.Quartier was born in Ostend, Belgium and moved to South Africa with his family at the age of 15.
Kurt Quartier is IGT’s Vice President of International Casino Markets and is currently based out of Macau. As such he oversees the subsidiaries primarily responsible for IGT-International’s Casino markets in Europe, Russia, Asia and Africa. Quartier previously served as Managing Director of IGT-Europe for six years. He initially joined IGT in 1997 as Regional Sales Manager. Prior to joining IGT, he worked for the U.S.-based Casino Magic! Corporation as Operations Manager. He was part of the team that opened the first privately owned casinos in Greece. He started his gaming career with Sun International in South Africa some 18 years ago and held several management positions over the years.Quartier was born in Ostend, Belgium and moved to South Africa with his family at the age of 15.
Catherine Burns
Catherine Burns
Catherine Burns is the Vice President and Managing Director, Asia Pacific, for Bally Technologies, where she is responsible for expanding Bally’s presence in the Asia Pacific market. Burns began her 13-year gaming career working with local and state governments to develop gaming legislation and programs as a consultant at IBM. Subsequently, she joined VLC and started up their Australian business and managed international gaming business, with responsibility for all markets outside the domestic United States and Australia.
Catherine Burns is the Vice President and Managing Director, Asia Pacific, for Bally Technologies, where she is responsible for expanding Bally’s presence in the Asia Pacific market. Burns began her 13-year gaming career working with local and state governments to develop gaming legislation and programs as a consultant at IBM. Subsequently, she joined VLC and started up their Australian business and managed international gaming business, with responsibility for all markets outside the domestic United States and Australia.
Joe Pisano
Joe Pisano
Mr. Joe Pisano is the Executive Director and Executive Vice President of Elixir Gaming Technologies (EGT). He is a widely respected gaming veteran with over 25 years of experience and in-depth expertise in the Asian gaming market. He was recently appointed as Ambassador of the Gaming Standards Association (GSA). Mr. Pisano joined EGT in August 2006. He is responsible for the company’s global alliance programs and strategic business development. In addition, he oversees the company’s marketing operations and research and development of gaming hardware and solutions in Asia. Prior to joining EGT, Mr. Pisano served as the Director for Business Development for Asia Pacific of IGT, where he generated for the company 40% market share in Asia. He also set up the jockey clubs throughout Asia for Automatic Totalizers. Mr. Pisano is based in the Philippines. He earned his Master in Business and Technology degree from the University of New South Wales in Australia.
Mr. Joe Pisano is the Executive Director and Executive Vice President of Elixir Gaming Technologies (EGT). He is a widely respected gaming veteran with over 25 years of experience and in-depth expertise in the Asian gaming market. He was recently appointed as Ambassador of the Gaming Standards Association (GSA). Mr. Pisano joined EGT in August 2006. He is responsible for the company’s global alliance programs and strategic business development. In addition, he oversees the company’s marketing operations and research and development of gaming hardware and solutions in Asia. Prior to joining EGT, Mr. Pisano served as the Director for Business Development for Asia Pacific of IGT, where he generated for the company 40% market share in Asia. He also set up the jockey clubs throughout Asia for Automatic Totalizers. Mr. Pisano is based in the Philippines. He earned his Master in Business and Technology degree from the University of New South Wales in Australia.
Ken Jolly
Ken Jolly
Ken Jolly employment history at Aristocrat is fulfilling, in the early 90’s he was the State Manager for Aristocrat in South Australia in the formation of gaming in the state after a technical and sales career, to moving onto the General Manager of Aristocrat Technologies for New Zealand. Not long after, Ken moved to America were he was the Vice President for the Americas (North, South America and Canada) and represented Aristocrat Incorporated as Office of the President following this Ken then lived in London where he was General Manager of Sales and Marketing for Europe. Ken Jolly is now General Manager of Asia Pacific including the geographical areas from Fiji in the Pacific Ocean to India and up to and including Mongolia. The major gaming growth region of Macau is within this region and is Ken’s subject today.
Ken Jolly employment history at Aristocrat is fulfilling, in the early 90’s he was the State Manager for Aristocrat in South Australia in the formation of gaming in the state after a technical and sales career, to moving onto the General Manager of Aristocrat Technologies for New Zealand. Not long after, Ken moved to America were he was the Vice President for the Americas (North, South America and Canada) and represented Aristocrat Incorporated as Office of the President following this Ken then lived in London where he was General Manager of Sales and Marketing for Europe. Ken Jolly is now General Manager of Asia Pacific including the geographical areas from Fiji in the Pacific Ocean to India and up to and including Mongolia. The major gaming growth region of Macau is within this region and is Ken’s subject today.
Paulo Azevedo
Paulo A. Azevedo
It makes a lot of sense to be a journalist in Asia. So it’s no wonder that after graduating in Oporto and working in Portugal for six years, Paulo A. Azevedo decided in the early nineties to try another continent, his third, having been born in Africa and having worked in Europe.
Today, he is executive director of Macau Business and chairman of Business Intelligence, business magazines in English and Chinese. Paulo A. Azevedo has been writing about both sides of the coin in Macau, for numerous publications, especially in Portugal. A journalist for 20 years, with 14 of them in Asia, he owned and wrote for a Portuguese daily newspaper in Macau, and in 2004 launched Macau’s first privately-owned English language business publication.
It makes a lot of sense to be a journalist in Asia. So it’s no wonder that after graduating in Oporto and working in Portugal for six years, Paulo A. Azevedo decided in the early nineties to try another continent, his third, having been born in Africa and having worked in Europe.
Today, he is executive director of Macau Business and chairman of Business Intelligence, business magazines in English and Chinese. Paulo A. Azevedo has been writing about both sides of the coin in Macau, for numerous publications, especially in Portugal. A journalist for 20 years, with 14 of them in Asia, he owned and wrote for a Portuguese daily newspaper in Macau, and in 2004 launched Macau’s first privately-owned English language business publication.