Maris Catania has stepped down from her role as head of responsible gaming and research at Kindred Group.
Catania, who held the role since August 2019, will leave Kindred to set up a new consultancy business.
Having joined Kindred in January 2009, Catania started out as a fraud analyst before going on to become responsible gaming manager, then fraud and responsible gaming manager and later integrity analytics manager.
Prior to taking on her most recent position, Catania spent time as head of Kindred’s player sustainability research and integrity team.
Catania will be replaced by Esther Scheepers, who is currently responsible gaming manager for Kindred’s Player Safety – Early Detection System.
“13 years ago, I joined Kindred Group and looking back I cannot believe what a rollercoaster it has been,” Catania said in a LinkedIn post announcing her exit. “I have seen RG from a non-existent necessary evil to an area on the top of the agenda for many, although more work is always needed on the topic.
“Of course, I will always be grateful for Kindred for all the opportunities they have given me, and I will still work with the company to continue on several projects especially research ones. I just feel that after all these years, I want to expand my knowledge to other areas and hopefully help others through RG research and RG initiatives.
“Having said all of this, I feel it’s been a whirlwind of emotions leaving my post as head of RG, but knowing that Esther will take on this role, makes me feel reassured that Kindred is in the right hands. I am super happy for her and have no doubt that she will excel in this.”
Catania’s time at Kindred included the operator’s Journey Towards Zero programme, in which it pledged to derive none of its revenue from problem players by 2023.
Catania was also named by iGB as one of the Most Influential Women in gaming in 2020.
