Spelbranschens Riksorganisation (SPER) – Sweden’s Gaming Association has named Maria Wennerberg Sedigh as its new chief executive – who will take leadership of the trade body as of 30 March.    

Sedigh will replace CEO incumbent Jenny Nilzon, who has chosen to end her five-year tenure as leader of SPER in order to carry forward her career outside of the online gambling sector.

An experienced Swedish civil-servant, Sedigh was a former Regeringskansliet (Government Office) Deputy Director overseeing budget coordination for the Ministries of Communications, Finance and Home Industries. 

From 2015-to-2017 Sedigh served as the Inquiry Secretary providing guidance on the regulatory development of the government’s reform of the gambling laws – required to re-launch Sweden’s online gambling marketplace in 2019. 

Prior to the marketplace’s relaunch, Sedigh has served as a senior policy advisor for gambling inspectorate Spelinspektionen.

SPER underlined Sedigh as the ideal candidate to lead its organisation, having worked across all legislative disciplines of Swedish gambling.

“We on the board are extremely happy that Maria will be the one to lead Sper further. She has a unique knowledge of the industry and I look forward to our collaboration,” said Patrik Hofbauer, chairman of Sper and CEO of Svenska Spel.

Sedigh will lead SPER as its members await for the Swedish government to finalise its  ‘2nd phase’ reforms of Sweden’s online gambling marketplace post its 2019 relaunch. 

Swedish authorities have stated that reforms will be focused on further consumer safeguards, operator accountability and stricter advertising laws

Sedigh remarked – “I am happy to have gained the trust. I will continue to develop Sper’s work with self-regulation, consumer protection and industry confidence – as an important  assignment that needs to be carried out.”