Ainsworth Game Technology (AGT) has confirmed that acting Chief Executive Officer Ryan Comstock will take up the role permanently, bringing an end to the six-month search for a new CEO.
Comstock stepped up to the interim CEO role after serving as the company’s Chief Operating Officer. The promotion followed the Nevada Gaming Control Board‘s failure to award former CEO Harald Neumann a licence to operate in the Silver State.
Neumann was raked over the coals during an NGCB meeting, as board members accused the Austrian of being evasive when questioned by agents, and cited his failure to submit documents related to his financial information and assets.
Neumann was also formerly the CEO of Novomatic, and the Austrian firm had hoped that he would help lead its attempted takeover of AGT.
Comstock joined AGT in 2012 and was promoted to the role of COO in 2018. The decision to install him permanently was taken by AGT’s Board, who described him as having ‘all the necessary attributes and experience’ to lead the company.
An Ainsworth statement added: “The Board reviewed and assessed the performance of Mr Comstock over the six months since his appointment as the Acting CEO in October 2025. His extensive knowledge across all operational areas of the Company, together with initiatives undertaken by him, was considered in determining his appointment.”
AGT’s ownership battle rumbles on
The American has been tasked with leading a company that continues to experience significant volatility among shareholders.
Novomatic currently holds approximately 67% of shares in AGT, however, its attempt to purchase enough shares to gain total control of AGT failed in February.
Meanwhile, Kjerulf Ainsworth, the son of AGT’s founder Len Ainsworth, has made multiple attempts to increase his own share in the company in retaliation for Novomatic’s offer, which he believed significantly undervalued AGT.
Ainsworth’s latest bid for shares proved largely unsuccessful, however, as he only managed to raise his interest in AGT by less than a percentage point to 8.24%, following the offer’s closure on 27 April.
He had offered shareholders AU$1.30 (£0.69) per share to acquire a maximum of 5.5% of each shareholder’s stake in the company. Novomatic previously offered AU$1 (£0.53) per share.