Change can often breathe new life into any situation, and that was certainly the case for Relax Gaming through the past year. As an array of key developments were made on a global basis, 2024 represented a crucial period as key personnel departed to be replaced by those bringing a new vision to the igaming studio.
Among these was Martin Stålros, stepping in as CEO following Simon Hammon’s decision to step down from the role, who immediately set about learning the intricacies of his new role to take the group to the next level.
A little under one year on, Stålros reflects on his journey as CEO thus far; touching on challenges and personal highlights, as well as what we can expect from Relax Gaming through this new year.
You were appointed CEO in April, how have you found your first year in this role at Relax?
Martin Stålros: My first year at Relax Gaming has been truly fantastic! I’m incredibly lucky to have a talented team around me, along with a very supportive board who have put their faith and trust in me.
We’ve made some changes to how we work internally, re-modelling our executive team with the appointments of Fredrik Sandberg and Enrico Bradamante, who both bring great experience and a fresh perspective to the company.
The Relax culture is as strong as it’s always been and only growing stronger! We’ve made great strides in moving forward and we’re in a solid position to deliver even more in 2025.
What have you learned most this year at Relax and what challenges have you faced?
MS: I’ve learned that change will always come with its challenges. It was clear to me from day one that I could not try and do things in the same way that my predecessors did.
Even though I had a good grasp on the high-level setup of the company due to the fact that I’ve been with Relax for such a long time, I still had to educate myself on some areas of the business that I had not been as directly involved in, understanding the challenges they face day-to-day, and how I could support them in my new role.
For me to be the best CEO I can be, I know that I need to surround myself with people who have experience in the areas that I don’t. This is why we have been bringing in external professionals that fit and support our long-term strategic goals.
Do you have a personal highlight from 2024 that stands out?
MS: There’s not one specific moment that stands out, but rather everything so far. Being in this position offers me a constant reminder of what a fantastic group of people we have working at this company.
I’ve genuinely lost count of how many times over the course of this year that I’ve been well and truly wowed by our culture, and what we’ve achieved. We’re professional, but ‘Relaxed’!
We’re fortunate to have such a skilled team at Relax and it has been a real team effort. We can all be proud of the successful launch over 50 games this year, stepping into new markets and forging new partnerships with operators to continue our trajectory.
What can we expect from Relax Gaming in 2025?
MS: We will be putting a lot of effort into adhering to our DNA of tech excellence and innovation. Our ambitions are strong, and we will not settle for second best. We want to excel in offering a fantastic gaming experience to our players.
We’ll also look to continue offering reliable, first-rate services and support to our loyal partners on the aggregation side of the business.
Watch this space, 2025 is going to be another stellar year for Relax Gaming!
