Group M.D. Leaving PartyGaming PLC

January 19, 2009 (InfoPowa News) — Surprise announcement from Internet gambling group PartyGaming plc as the week commenced was the imminent departure of managing director John O'Malia " … to pursue other business interests."
 
O'Malia has informed the board of directors of his intention to quit at the end of February 2009, handing his responsibilities over to the group's chief executive, Jim Ryan. When InfoPowa went to press there was no indication of O'Malia's future plans.
 
John O’Malia was chief executive of Gamebookers, until it was acquired by Party Gaming in August 2006. Having agreed to remain with the group following the integration of Gamebookers, he became a member of the senior management team and was appointed to the board of Party Gaming in May 2008 (see previous report).  
 
Commenting on O'Malia's resignation, Jim Ryan, Group Chief Executive Officer, said:
 
"Over the past two and a half years, John has made a significant contribution to the transformation and leadership of the Group. In particular, his vision and dedication were fundamental to the successful launch of the next generation of our signature PartyPoker.com product in September 2008.   
 
"John is a natural leader and is keen to fulfil his potential in a more senior management role that will play to his considerable industry and management experience. Whilst saddened by his decision to leave the Group, we wish him every success for the future."
 
"My time at PartyGaming has been extraordinary," O'Malia responded. "We have made enormous strides in repositioning the Group’s gaming portfolio, something that I was determined to achieve before moving on. I am enormously proud of the progress we have made and the fact that many of the Group’s games are now once again recognised as being best in class. Whilst I shall certainly miss the excitement of working for the world’s leading listed online gaming company, I am looking forward to taking on fresh business challenges."