Gauselmann Group gets its new functionary – Nick Harding

Gauselmann Group, the internationally active family-owned company, committed to providing leisure-time entertainment and gaming fun with small stakes and prizes, gets its new functionary – Nick Harding.

Nick Harding, who is the CEO of the Praesepe arcade chain, is now commissioned as the new Senior Advisor for the British business activities of the Gauselmann Group. Going forward the responsibilities for political and association work and public relations for all operating subsidiaries of the Gauselmann Group, in the UK will rest with Him.

In association with the realignment and optimisation of communication and marketing activities, Nick Harding will shift to a new office based in  London, from where, he will directly report to the company’s founder Paul Gauselmann, and Manfred Stoffers, member of the Management Board (Marketing, Communications and Political Affairs). Nick will then coordinate closely with the respective members of the Management Board of the family-owned Gauselmann Group. At the political and federation level, he will advise and represent the Blueprint Gaming, Regal Gaming, and Leisure and Betcom Ltd and Praesepe’s subsidiaries. Prior to assuming his new position, Nick Harding will gradually cease his previous operational duties and in the interim will carry on as the CEO of Praesepe.

Paul Gauselmann, the Company Founder and Chairman of the Management Board of the family-run Gauselmann Group said: “We are delighted that with Nick Harding we have been able to enlist a long-time colleague who is a recognised expert in terms of the company, the industry and the relevant legislation for the realignment of our political and public communication activities in the UK.”

He added: “We are confident that the experience he brings to the job will enable him to inject fresh momentum and generate beneficial synergies for all operating subsidiaries in Britain. We wish him all the best in his new role.”

Nick Harding has over 35 years’ experience in the gambling sector. In September 2007 he established Praesepe plc as an AIM-listed company mandated to acquire going concern businesses in the European low stake high volume “gaming sector” and grew the business from a cash shell to operating more than 180 gaming venues (including the UK’s largest Bingo club and an online Bingo business) in the UK. In 2012 the Praesepe business was sold to the German Gauselmann Group. Furthermore, the new Senior Advisor UK knows the market and has impressive networking abilities at a political and federation level. He is a past President of the trade association BACTA and sits on the advisory panel of the charity Gambleaware. He was the  Director of Business in Sport and Leisure and is a Director of the UK Bingo Association. He was also the founding Chairman of iGGBA, the UK’s first interactive gaming association. He has been Chairman of the Gambling Business Group since its inception in 2013.

Nick Harding, the to be Senior Advisor added: “The move from an operational business to my new role is a challenge I am very much looking forward to. In the light of the anticipated changes in Gaming Machine regulation in the UK, engagement at a political and federation level will be more important than ever in our industry. It’s time to set the course for a successful and sustainable future and I am delighted to be part of this process.”