Hector Fernandez Takes the Helm: IGT Restructures Leadership for Merger Integration

New CEO Signals Strategic Shift as Legacy IGT and Everi Teams Consolidate Under Apollo Partnership

The gaming and digital technology sector saw a significant leadership transition as IGT formally welcomed Hector Fernandez as its new Chief Executive Officer. The appointment marks a pivotal moment for the company as it navigates the complex integration of its Gaming & Digital divisions with the former Everi operations, all under the backing of Apollo’s strategic partnership.

Fernandez, who previously led a competing global gaming enterprise, brings substantial experience in scaling technology-driven gaming solutions and driving operational excellence across international markets. His appointment signals that the combined entity plans to operate differently—moving beyond legacy structures toward a more unified, innovation-focused organization.

Reshaping the Enterprise: What Fernandez’s Leadership Means

In his inaugural statement, Fernandez emphasized the convergence of talent and resources: “We have an opportunity to evolve how we operate, innovate, and deliver for our customers.” This language suggests a comprehensive operational overhaul rather than a simple administrative transition. The focus on bringing “legacy IGT Gaming & Digital and Everi teams” together, along with external talent recruitment, indicates the company is building a newly configured leadership ecosystem.

The Las Vegas-based company is positioning itself to accelerate product innovation and deepen customer partnerships—critical objectives for staying competitive in a rapidly consolidating gaming technology landscape. Daniel Cohen, Apollo’s designated Board Chair, reinforced this vision, noting the potential for enhanced content innovation and stronger market positioning.

The Transition: What Changed and Why It Matters

Nick Khin, who served as interim enterprise CEO and led the Gaming business unit through the transition period, will step into a strategic advisory capacity. Fernandez acknowledged Khin’s contributions over the past twelve years, framing the shift as an evolution rather than a departure. This move allows experienced internal leadership to remain engaged while fresh perspectives guide the merged organization.

Operationally, the restructuring preserves existing leadership in specific domains: Gil Rotem continues to oversee Digital operations, while Darren Simmons maintains responsibility for the FinTech division. This segmented approach suggests a strategy of maintaining specialized focus within each business unit while centralizing overall strategy under Fernandez.

The Broader Picture: IGT’s Positioning

The company’s integrated offering—spanning gaming machines, game content, systems, iGaming, sports betting, cash access, and loyalty solutions—suggests it’s targeting operators seeking consolidated partners rather than fragmented vendors. Fernandez’s appointment, coupled with the organizational restructuring, indicates IGT is betting on operational efficiency and innovation velocity as its competitive differentiators.

The regulatory approval process for the CEO transition remains a final step, but the leadership reshuffling appears designed to establish clarity and momentum heading into 2026. For industry observers, the question remains whether this unified structure can genuinely deliver the accelerated growth and innovation both Apollo and the newly configured team are promising.