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Allwyn Appoints Betsson Veteran Fredrik Ögren as Group CTO: Strategic Context, Leadership Changes, and What to Watch

By jili tutorial · October 8, 2026

Allwyn Appoints Betsson Veteran Fredrik Ögren as Group CTO: Strategic Context, Leadership Changes, and What to Watch

Allwyn AG has named Fredrik Ögren as its new group chief technology officer (CTO), according to a Tuesday announcement. The appointment marks the latest step in a broader leadership refresh at the global lottery and gaming group as it continues to expand into new markets and reshape its technology operations.

Ögren joins Allwyn from Betsson Group, where he spent five years as CTO. During his time at Betsson, he was responsible for setting technology strategy and evolving large-scale platforms that supported the company’s international growth across multiple regulated jurisdictions. That work included Betsson’s acquisition of the Canadian B2C business of Rhino Entertainment Group, a deal that required careful platform integration and technology due diligence.

At Allwyn, Ögren will report to Kresimir Spajic, CEO of Allwyn Digital. His mandate is to lead the shaping and delivery of Allwyn’s technology strategy, with an emphasis on building a more connected and efficient ecosystem across the group. This is intended to drive growth, strengthen market positions, and improve customer experience across Allwyn’s portfolio.

Who Is Fredrik Ögren?

Ögren is an experienced technology executive with a background in scaling digital platforms in complex, multi-jurisdictional environments. His five-year tenure at Betsson Group gave him exposure to a wide range of challenges, including:

The head of Betsson’s Canadian B2C operations from Rhino Entertainment Group was a notable example of his work. Such transactions require technology teams to align systems, migrate users, and maintain service quality during a period of transition. Ögren’s experience in this area is likely to be valuable at Allwyn, which is itself pursuing growth through both organic investment and potential acquisitions.

What Does the Group CTO Role Involve?

As group CTO, Ögren will be responsible for the overall technology direction of Allwyn. The role includes overseeing both the engineering and product technology teams that support Allwyn’s digital platforms and internal systems. In practice, this means aligning tools, infrastructure, and architecture across the group so that different markets and business units can share capabilities rather than operating in silos.

A connected and efficient technology ecosystem can deliver several benefits:

For a lottery operator like Allwyn, reliability and security are also critical. A CTO in this role must balance innovation with the need to protect sensitive customer data and maintain public trust.

Ögren’s First Comments: A Focus on Innovation and Growth

Commenting on his appointment, Ögren said:

“I am thrilled to be joining Allwyn at such an exciting stage in its growth journey. Technology plays a critical role in creating great player experiences, enabling innovation and supporting long-term business success. I look forward to working with colleagues across the group to build an even more connected technology ecosystem, strengthen our capabilities and help deliver the next phase of Allwyn’s growth.”

The statement signals that Ögren sees technology not just as a support function, but as a core driver of player experience and commercial performance. His emphasis on collaboration across the group is also notable, since it suggests a leadership style focused on integration rather than isolated departmental improvement.

Why Spajic Welcomed the Appointment

Kresimir Spajic, CEO of Allwyn Digital, highlighted the strategic importance of the hire:

“We’re delighted to welcome Fredrik to Allwyn. His expertise will be instrumental in building a more scalable technology platform to deliver improved experiences for our customers and partners.”

Spajic’s use of the word “scalable” is significant. It indicates that Allwyn is preparing its technology base for a future in which the group operates in more markets, serves more customers, and integrates more businesses. A scalable platform can grow without requiring a complete rebuild each time the company enters a new jurisdiction or launches a new product.

Brett Cross Moves Into a Newly Created Deputy Role

The announcement also included a leadership change for Brett Cross, who had been serving as interim group CTO. Cross will move into a newly created role: CTO global lottery and deputy group CTO, reporting directly to Ögren.

This is a carefully structured transition. Rather than losing Cross’s internal knowledge, Allwyn has created a role that allows him to focus on global lottery operations while Ögren takes charge of the overall technology strategy. The dual reporting line gives Ögren a senior deputy who understands the existing lottery infrastructure and can provide continuity during the leadership handover.

Allwyn described the move as building a “strong technology leadership team for the next phase of growth.” That language reflects a deliberate effort to strengthen the bench of senior technology executives, rather than relying on a single leader.

A Pivotal Time for Allwyn

The appointment comes at a moment of rapid expansion for Allwyn. The group has been actively positioning itself for further growth, and Spajic recently told iGB that additional mergers and acquisitions are on the horizon. He confirmed that a number of discussions are under way, but also made clear that there is no urgency to close a deal.

That patient approach suggests Allwyn is looking for the right opportunities, rather than rushing into transactions. For the technology team, this means Ögren must prepare the platform not only for today’s needs but also for future integration of new businesses.

Other Recent Leadership Changes at Allwyn

Ögren is not the only recent addition to Allwyn’s senior leadership team. The group has made several key appointments in recent months:

Together, these appointments show a broader pattern. Allwyn is strengthening leadership in technology, responsible gaming, and country-level operations at the same time. That suggests a governance structure ready for a more complex and highly regulated business environment.

What to Watch Next

With Ögren in place, the immediate priorities will likely include:

  1. Building a shared technology roadmap across Allwyn’s existing lottery operations and digital businesses.
  2. Integrating any future acquisitions into a unified platform architecture.
  3. Improving digital customer experiences, particularly as competition in lottery and gaming markets intensifies.
  4. Supporting responsible gaming initiatives, with technology playing a role in player protection and data monitoring.

The creation of Brett Cross’s new role also gives Allwyn flexibility. If the group pursues further M&A, Ögren can focus on strategic integration while Cross oversees the day-to-day technology operations of the global lottery business.

Bottom Line

Fredrik Ögren’s appointment as group CTO brings a proven technology leader with deep international experience to Allwyn at a critical stage in its development. His background at Betsson, particularly in scaling platforms and supporting acquisitions, aligns with Allwyn’s stated ambitions for growth and transformation.

The leadership reshuffle, including Brett Cross’s new deputy role, suggests that Allwyn is deliberately building a technology organisation that can support both organic expansion and future deals. With M&A discussions already under way and other key leadership positions recently filled, Allwyn appears to be preparing itself for the next chapter of its growth strategy.