Scientific Games Appoints Dan Flynn as CEO; Kevin Schneider Elevated to Chairman

Dan Flynn became chief executive of Scientific Games on 2 November, the company announced in a 5 November release. Kevin Schneider, who had served as interim chief executive since Pat McHugh's retirement, was named chairman and will focus on strategic, commercial and operational priorities.

Executive changes and backgrounds

Scientific Games made the appointments public on 5 November and said Flynn's start date was 2 November. Flynn joins from CDK Global, where he returned in 2022 as chief transformation officer to lead transformation and software modernisation. The company’s release records earlier roles that include executive vice president of business transformation and president of North America at Caterpillar from 2016 to 2019, three years running Caterpillar's global rental and used equipment business, and more than two decades at Hertz, finishing as senior vice president of North American operations. The release notes experience with businesses serving state and municipal customers but lists no prior lottery role.

Kevin Schneider had been interim chief executive since 8 September when Pat McHugh retired after more than 20 years with the supplier. Schneider joined the board as an independent director in 2022, became vice chair in March 2026 and is a former chief operating officer of Genworth Financial. The 5 November release quotes Schneider saying Flynn "brings the operational and technology leadership experience to build on that momentum." No pay terms were disclosed.

Timing, context and Brookfield ownership

Brookfield Business Partners bought the lottery business in 2022; the sale was announced on 27 October 2021 and valued the deal at up to $6.05 billion. The seller at that time was Scientific Games Corporation, now Light & Wonder. The appointment of Flynn — a Brookfield portfolio executive — follows a three-month search that began when Scientific Games announced on 3 August that McHugh would retire on 8 September and that the board would seek a permanent successor.

The 3 August release had said McHugh would stay on as vice chair in an advisory role and named David Nowak, president of Brookfield's private equity group, as chairman. The 5 November release announcing Flynn and Schneider does not mention Nowak or McHugh's advisory role.

Lottery contracts and immediate priorities

Scientific Games is still operating the Maryland Lottery under a contract it is contesting; reports place the incumbent contract end date at 4 May 2027 while appeals over the rejected rebid continue. Flynn is due to attend the World Lottery Summit in Sydney from 9 to 13 November, where he will meet lottery customers and procurement officials. The company frames Flynn's record around technology modernisation and large operations; the board is betting that experience serving public-sector customers will transfer to lottery procurement.

The World Lottery Summit engagement is an early practical test of Flynn's role and the board's decision. The Summit runs 9 to 13 November and brings together the public-sector customers who award multi-year state lottery contracts. Rivals for such procurements include Brightstar and Intralot.

Bragg Gaming leadership move

Separately, Bragg Gaming Group announced on 6 November that chief executive Matevž Mazij had moved to a strategic adviser role with immediate effect and no day-to-day management responsibility. Chief operating officer Morten Tonnesen, who had been COO since March 2026, became interim chief executive on the same day. Bragg gave no reason in its release and did not indicate a search for a permanent chief executive.

Mazij founded Oryx Gaming, which Bragg acquired in 2018, and had led Bragg since August 2023. He left Bragg's board in July after failing to win a majority at the 18 June annual meeting. Matt Davey, whose Tekkorp Capital holds about 10.09% of Bragg's shares, became chairman on 22 July.

Bragg reported second-quarter revenue of €22.9 million, a decline of 12%, and withdrew its 2026 guidance after buying Drayton International. The company will report third-quarter results on 13 November.

What the releases show

Scientific Games chose a transformation executive from another Brookfield-owned company rather than a leader with a lottery career. The 5 November release contains no stated change of strategy; it frames Flynn's hire as a capability play around technology and operations. Flynn's first public appearances include the World Lottery Summit, and the company remains the incumbent on the Maryland Lottery contract due to expire on 4 May 2027 while appeals proceed.

Bragg's change follows a shareholder vote and a weak quarter: Mazij lost a board re-election at the 18 June annual meeting, guidance was withdrawn in August, and revenue fell in Q2. Tonnesen will lead the company into the 13 November third-quarter results.

"brings the operational and technology leadership experience to build on that momentum," Kevin Schneider on Flynn's appointment.

Flynn will attend the World Lottery Summit in Sydney from 9 to 13 November, according to the release.