GLI Promotes Four Directors to Lead EMEIA Sales Operations

Gaming Laboratories International (GLI) has elevated four executives to director positions within its EMEIA sales division. Francesca Badon, Alberto Ruiz-Ocaña, Caio Parry, and Antonino Santangelo will now hold strategic roles bolstering GLI's commercial reach across Europe, the Middle East, India, and Africa.

GLI's EMEIA Sales Director Promotions: Strategic Appointments in Key Markets

The promotions were announced by GLI's leadership following an internal review of commercial talent across the EMEIA region. Francesca Badon assumes the title of Director of Account Management, EMEIA, based in Italy. Alberto Ruiz-Ocaña is promoted to Director of Business Development, EMEIA, and is headquartered in Spain. Caio Parry and Antonino Santangelo are appointed Directors of Account Management, EMEIA, operating from the UK and Malta, respectively.

Chris Davies, Vice President of EMEIA Sales at GLI, underlined the significance of the move:

"We are delighted to promote these four great leaders and see their careers progress within GLI. Together, they represent decades of gaming knowledge and experience, hugely benefiting our clients. As they have grown, so has the value they bring and we look forward to exciting times for both them and the future of our industry," Davies said.

Leadership Experience and Market Coverage

Each new director brings substantial experience within GLI and familiarity with their designated markets:

• Francesca Badon joined GLI in 2019, previously serving as Senior Account Manager and now based in Italy.
• Alberto Ruiz-Ocaña started with GLI in 2021, moving up from Senior Business Development Manager and is located in Spain.
• Caio Parry has been part of GLI since 2018, initially as Project Manager, most recently as Senior Account Manager, based in the UK.
• Antonino Santangelo also joined in 2018, holding Senior Account Manager responsibilities before his current role; his location is Malta.

James Illingworth, also Vice President of EMEIA Sales, commented:

"These promotions reflect the strength of our EMEIA sales organization and the leadership we continue to build across the region. Francesca, Alberto, Caio, and Antonino each bring valuable market knowledge, strong client relationships, and a clear understanding of the opportunities ahead. In their expanded roles, they will help us deepen our support for customers and strengthen GLI’s presence across EMEIA."

Collectively, the new directors are positioned to enhance GLI’s ability to deliver commercial support to clients across multiple regulated gaming sectors.

GLI's Global Testing and Certification Operations

GLI has operated since 1989 and is recognized as a major Testing, Inspection, and Certification (TIC) provider for the land-based, lottery, and iGaming sectors. Its global operations include laboratory networks covering six continents and compliance accreditations in over 710 jurisdictions. To date, GLI has certified close to two million items and tested more than 5.3 million gaming components.

The company supports suppliers, operators, and regulators globally in meeting regulatory compliance for gaming and lottery products. Its work ensures that innovations are evaluated reliably before reaching the market. For more on the company's certification process and its support for regulatory standards, readers can refer to its global mandate.

EMEIA Commercial Initiatives and Industry Presence

The appointments come as GLI continues to invest in its EMEIA market strategy to better serve the compliance and product launch requirements of both established and emerging gaming jurisdictions. The new directors are expected to expand client engagement, leveraging their regional expertise.

As part of its active industry role, GLI will participate at SBC Lisbon, where Chris Davies, Alberto Ruiz-Ocaña, and Francesca Badon will represent the company alongside the wider EMEIA team at stand B238. These initiatives are designed to reinforce GLI’s connections with local operators, platform providers, and market stakeholders, maintaining the company’s standing as a partner in technical testing and certification.

Executive Team and Future Prospects

GLI’s renewed EMEIA sales leadership aims to strengthen client relationships and broaden commercial opportunities as the region’s gaming market evolves. The directors’ market knowledge and leadership experience position the team to respond to new technical requirements, regulatory developments, and growth in both traditional and online gaming segments. GLI maintains its commitment to advancing compliance and quality assurance for its partners, as recognised by its international accreditations aligned with ISO/IEC standards.

Through these director promotions, GLI signals a continued focus on professional development and long-term growth within regulated gaming markets across EMEIA.