The Australian casino games company Ainsworth Game Technology has announced the appointment of María Teresa Gonzáles as its new commercial manager for Peru and Colombia.
Gonzáles has nearly three decades of experience in the gaming sector. She recently served as Product Manager for Peru at online gaming provider CT Gaming. She has also been part of the Spanish multinational Cirsa, operator of the Sportium brand.
According to Ainsworth, Gonzáles’s addition allows them to strengthen their regional structure, “committing to a strategic vision focused on market expansion, the strengthening of high-level business partnerships, and the development of top-performing products.”
“The combination of operational and commercial experience has allowed María Teresa to develop a deep understanding of operators’ needs, driving strategies aimed at growth, profitability, and the generation of sustainable value for our business partners,” the company stated.
They added that “we are confident that her ability to identify business opportunities and her results-driven approach will be key to maximizing the rollout of our 2026 catalog and to strengthening our clients’ profitability in the region.”
For her part, Gonzáles commented: “I am convinced that there is great potential to continue strengthening our presence in Peru and Colombia through a value proposition focused on innovation, sustainability, and the generation of results for our clients.”
The controversy surrounding undisclosed payments
Gonzáles’s appointment comes at a turbulent time for Ainsworth.
Earlier this month, non-executive chairman Danny Gladstone and company secretary Mark Ludski resigned amid a controversy over undisclosed bonuses.
Over the past year, Gladstone repeatedly defended Novomatic’s attempts to increase its stake in Ainsworth’s business.
For his part, Kjerulf Ainsworth, son of the company’s founder, Len, has been a staunch opponent of the Australian firm’s acquisition. Following a report by the Australian Financial Review claiming that both former executives had received undisclosed payments, Kjerulf Ainsworth demanded the resignation of Gladstone and Ludski.
“The Board wishes to recognize and thank Mr. Gladstone and Mr. Ludski for their leadership and significant contributions to Ainsworth during their time at the company,” they said in a statement.
It should be noted that in 2016, Len Ainsworth sold his 53% stake to Novomatic. Since then, the Austrian firm has increased its stake and now controls 67% of Ainsworth.
According to the Australian Financial Review, Len Ainsworth paid then-CEO Gladstone 10 million Australian dollars, while Ludski (then CFO) received 5 million. However, the transactions were not disclosed.
In a statement sent to the Australian Securities Exchange (ASX), Gladstone and Ludski announced their intention to resign “in light of recent press reports about personal payments they received more than eight years ago.”
Apparently, they have decided that “it is best for AGT that they resign so that the company can move past the allegations and focus on executing its strategic priorities.”