Board of directors
The Board of Directors of Gentoo Media consists of seven members, of whom five are independent of the company’s main shareholders. In the opinion of the Board, its composition reflects the company’s need for a mix of competencies, continuity, and responsiveness to changes in ownership structure. None of the Directors holds any options or is entitled to severance payment upon termination or expiry of their service.
A partner at Optimizer Invest Ltd, Mikael has been a major shareholder in Gentoo Media since 2016, both personally and through Optimizer. He brings deep experience in online gambling and M&A, having served as board member and senior adviser to companies including Catena Media, The Game Day, Betit Group, Skilling and Speqta. He holds a Master of Laws degree from Lund University.
Hesam is the founder of Mocca Investment Group, an active investor in both public and private markets. He has been a committed shareholder in Gentoo Media for several years and continues to contribute to the company’s investor relations strategy and capital markets positioning. His broader investment work includes early-stage and growth-focused ventures across tech, gaming and media.
A long-standing force in the gambling sector, Mateusz spent over a decade as CEO of Poland’s largest bookmaker, STS, before leading the family’s strategic sale of a majority stake to Entain Group in 2023. He is the founder of Betplay Capital, one of the sector’s largest investment funds, with assets under management of approximately EUR 650 million. His career reflects deep operational expertise and a strong investor lens, shaped by 20 years in gaming and a degree in Strategic Management from Kozminski University.
Cristina brings a rare mix of legal depth and international perspective to the Board. A partner at LOYRA, she leads a top-ranked M&A and regulatory practice for gambling and betting, with a focus on the Americas. Over the past 12 years, she has advised operators, suppliers and investors across 30+ jurisdictions. Cristina also serves on the boards of the International Center for Responsible Gaming (ICRG) in the US and OMNIGAME in Denmark.
Nick is the founder of a consulting firm specialising in corporate development and M&A. He previously served as Group Director of M&A and Corporate Development at Entain plc, where he led more than 20 transactions totalling approximately $10 billion. Before joining Entain, he spent three decades in financial services, primarily as a Leisure & Gaming analyst. His work was recognised in the Extel Survey, where he was ranked No. 1 in his field by corporate clients.
Tomasz combines hands-on sector experience with a global investment outlook. As CIO of Betplay Capital, he oversees a portfolio focused on gambling and adjacent industries, managing more than USD 120 million in assets. His background includes operational roles at STS, early-stage investment with Firstminute Capital in London, and equity management at Juroszek Holding. He holds a Master’s in International Business from Bayes Business School (formerly Cass).
Entrepreneurial at his core, Jesper built and exited one of Sweden’s most successful betting affiliates, Ribacka Group AB, acquired by Better Collective in 2018. He now invests independently in tech and digital ventures, focusing on search, performance marketing and scalable business models. With over 15 years in the space, his portfolio spans multiple high-growth investments and successful exits.
Committees
The company has an Audit Committee consisting of two directors: Nicholas Batram (Committee Chair) and Tomasz Juroszek.
The Remuneration Committee also comprises two directors: Mikael Riese Harstad (Committee Chair) and Hesam Yazdi. The committee is responsible for reviewing executive compensation to ensure it reflects both company performance and broader market standards.
The ESG & Compliance Committee includes Cristina Romero de Alba (Committee Chair) and Nicholas Batram.
Executive management
Visit our leadership page for information on Gentoo Media’s executive management team.
