IGT has entered a new stage of its corporate development with the arrival of Hector Fernandez as chief executive, marking a significant shift in leadership as the company finalizes major structural changes and incorporates teams from its recently combined operations. The appointment was previously announced, and his move into the role is now official.
Fernandez joins the company in Las Vegas with a background that spans senior positions in gaming and technology. Before accepting the top job at IGT, he served as CEO of a global competitor and spent more than five years at Aristocrat, where he held roles that included CFO of Americas and later CEO of Aristocrat Gaming. His earlier experience includes leadership positions at Western Digital and Amgen.
In his first remarks since stepping into the position, Fernandez said, “I’m honored and excited to lead IGT into its next chapter. This is a company with strong talent, deep industry relationships, and significant potential. As we bring together the legacy IGT and Everi teams, in partnership with Apollo, we have an opportunity to evolve how we operate, innovate, and deliver for our customers. I’m looking forward to working with our teams around the world to define what’s next for IGT.”
Leadership Transition and Executive Changes
His appointment coincides with the transition of Nick Khin, who served as interim enterprise CEO and CEO of the Gaming business. Khin will step down from those responsibilities and move into an advisory role that supports senior leadership and the board of directors. Fernandez acknowledged Khin’s contributions, saying, “Nick has contributed greatly to IGT’s progress over the past twelve years. His leadership through this transition period has been invaluable to the organization, and I want to thank him for his dedication and impact. We appreciate his continued guidance as we move into this next chapter.”
Fernandez will oversee the combined enterprise and lead the Gaming business once required regulatory approvals are secured. The company confirmed that Gil Rotem will continue to lead the Digital business, while Darren Simmons remains in charge of the FinTech division.
Corporate Restructuring and Strategic Realignments
IGT implemented major organizational changes in the past year. The firm reached an agreement with Apollo Global Management to sell its Gaming and Digital divisions and Everi in a $6.3 billion all-cash transaction. In 2024, the company further combined its Gaming and Digital segments with Everi, followed by a taxable spin-off of the combined units to shareholders before the Apollo acquisition was finalized. The business now operates through a privately held structure under a holding company.
Alongside the operational shifts, IGT completed a rebrand of its global lottery division, which now operates as Brightstar Lottery. The renamed business serves as a technology provider and game developer for lottery operators. Brightstar delivers systems and content to 26 of the 46 regulated lottery jurisdictions in the United States, extending its reach across a sizable portion of the market.
With Fernandez now at the helm and key units operating under an updated corporate structure, IGT enters a period defined by integration and renewed strategic focus.
Source:
“IGT Ushers in New Era of Leadership with Incoming CEO Hector Fernandez”, igt.com, December 3 2025
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