Smith’s appointment marks a significant addition to the leadership team of the US-focused player account management (PAM) platform, as he brings with him a wealth of experience and expertise amassed over two decades in the gaming industry.
Smith most recently served as the CTO at Game Play Network since May 2022.
Prior to that, he held the position of director of technology strategy at Flutter Entertainment from July 2021 to May 2022.
Smith’s career also includes roles such as CTO at Rank Interactive from November 2019 to July 2021 and at Stride Gaming Group from April 2019 to November 2019.
He also spent nearly 17 years at William Hill, where he held various roles including global director of technology and group chief architect.
Strive said Smith has been instrumental in the technical development and growth of these businesses, each at varying levels of maturity and size.
PAM expert
At Rank Group, Smith oversaw the company-wide expansion of the firm’s PAM and omni-channel experience, demonstrating his ability to drive innovation and scalability within complex environments.
“This experience is extremely valid to tribal and commercial casinos alike who are figuring out how to create an ideal connection between land-based and digital experiences,” Strive said.
With additional experience across Class III and Class II gaming, and a “deep understanding of US regulatory and technical complexities”, Smith brings a unique perspective to the business.
“I’m thrilled to join the talented team at Strive Gaming,” said Smith.
“Having worked with their PAM product from a customer perspective, I have firsthand experience of its quality and potential.
“I am confident that together, we can further evolve the company and achieve our vision of becoming the number one PAM provider in North America.”
Strive Gaming CEO Max Meltzer also welcomed Smith as new CTO.
“Ian has rare characteristics; exceptional hands-on skill, experience and yet a sense of calm, humility and above all a desire to help talent around him flourish.
“This coupled with his extensive industry experience in the gaming industry make him the right person to lead our technical initiatives and helping the business achieve its goals,” Meltzer said.
Last month, Strive Gaming received a substantial investment from major gambling industry stakeholders, led by sports betting supplier OpenBet.