Speculation that Leggett’s exit motivated by desire to remove possible obstacles to licensing in New Jersey.
Paul Leggett, the former Tokwiro group chief operating officer who joined Amaya Gaming as head of online gambling earlier this year, has reportedly left the company in an amicable arrangement.
The usually reliable US Poker information website claims to have seen an internal email in which David Baazov, CEO of Amaya, advises subordinates that Leggett’s responsibilities will be assumed by Amaya business development director Don Jacques.
In the absence of reasons for Leggett’s departure in an apparently voluntary agreement, there is speculation that his past involvement with the doomed Tokwiro Enterprises group may have been seen as a hindrance to Amaya achieving New Jersey online gambling licensing (the company has since been approved).
Baazov was generous in his praise for Leggett, saying in the email to employees that the executive was leaving immediately, but that:
“Paul is a consummate professional and has done an incredible job at Amaya. He has led the integration of the online businesses, developed our strategies for technology and product, signed key deals and has put our online business on the path forward to greater things. He will be sorely missed.”
Baazov goes on to talk up Jacques, whom he says has been effective in leading USA market developments and has a strong and extensive history with the Amaya development team in Stockholm.
Given his past association with the much-maligned Tokwiro group and its history of online poker disasters, Leggett’s appointment to replace Peter Bertilsson as head of online gaming at Amaya earlier this year surprised many (see previous reports).
At press-time there was no indication of what Leggett’s future may hold.