Light & Wonder appoints Matthieu Labbat CEO of SciPlay
Labbat joins from Product Madness and King, succeeding Josh Wilson as head of the social-games unit
Key Takeaways
- Light & Wonder has named Matthieu Labbat Chief Executive Officer of SciPlay with immediate effect.
- Labbat spent more than seven and a half years at Product Madness and nearly five years at King.
- He replaces Josh Wilson, whose departure from the unit was announced in September.
- Labbat’s mandate includes leading social casino game development and accelerating SciPlay’s commercial growth toward 2027.
Light & Wonder has appointed Matthieu Labbat as Chief Executive Officer of SciPlay, its social games division, with immediate effect. Labbat arrives after more than seven and a half years at Product Madness, Aristocrat’s mobile division, and nearly five years at King; he replaces Josh Wilson, whose departure from the unit was announced in September.
Profile of the new CEO
Matthieu Labbat brings a track record focused on scaling mobile businesses and product innovation. The statement notes that Labbat spent "more than seven and a half years" at Product Madness, where he played a key role in expanding operations and product reach. He previously worked for almost five years at King as a game developer and strategist.
"Matthieu has a proven record in building and scaling mobile gaming businesses, combined with exceptional product vision and talent for developing teams. That combination makes him the ideal leader for SciPlay," said Matt Wilson, Chief Executive Officer and President of Light & Wonder.
Mandate and strategic objectives
In his new role, Labbat will lead the creation of social casino games and the acceleration of long-term commercial growth. The official note states the company plans to strengthen "robust product pipelines" and data-driven player experiences to improve retention and user acquisition. SciPlay’s operational horizon targets growing its global player community through 2027.
Corporate context
The appointment comes as Light & Wonder continues to refine an operating model focused on content across its land-based, digital and social verticals. With Labbat at the helm of SciPlay, the company aims to optimise user-acquisition frameworks and maximise the long-term value of its social gaming franchises.
SciPlay will operate under Labbat’s leadership while the parent company oversees content integration and commercial execution across markets.
Transition and timing
Labbat assumes responsibility following the September announcement of Josh Wilson’s departure. The statement does not specify a formal start date beyond the public confirmation of the appointment.
For tracking executive moves in the industry consult the news section or the b2b analyses on product and growth strategies.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Matthieu Labbat and what is his prior experience?
Matthieu Labbat is the new Chief Executive Officer of SciPlay. He has more than seven and a half years at Product Madness, Aristocrat’s mobile division, and nearly five years at King, according to the Light & Wonder statement.
Whom does Matthieu Labbat replace at SciPlay?
Matthieu Labbat replaces Josh Wilson, whose exit from the unit was announced in September, per the company’s official note.
What are Labbat’s strategic priorities at SciPlay?
Labbat’s strategic priorities are to build social casino games and accelerate long-term commercial growth by strengthening product pipelines and data-driven player experiences with a view to 2027.
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About the author
Gonzalo Marín
Industry Deals Correspondent
Gonzalo Marín covers the corporate deal flow of gambling — operator strategy, M&A, regulated-market entries, and product launches. The reports open with the transaction, cite companies, valuations, and jurisdictions exactly as released, and keep the announcement apart from its actual effect. When a Latin American operator raises capital or a European brand lands in the region, Gonzalo Marín reports who signs, for how much, and on what terms.
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