Merkur Gaming has appointed gaming industry veteran Jens Halle as the new CEO of the casino gaming systems designer and manufacturer effective January 1.

Halle had left Novomatic group, end of 2014, after 15 years of working as managing director of Austrian Gaming Industries GmbH and chief executive of Novomatic Americas Sales LLC.

The Germany-based firm Merkur Gaming said in a press release on Wednesday that Halle will take charge of the company’s international sales and distribution, consolidation of business activities in Merkur Gaming’s established markets, as well as the company’s expansions into new territories.

“The development know-how and the long-standing wealth of experience at the Gauselmann Group offer great potential and diverse development opportunities for our partners abroad,” said Halle.

“Mr. Halle’s long-standing focus on the global casino business has enabled him to have the right vision, with such experience so as to further develop our products – mainly overseas outside of Europe –  in a truly sustainable way,” said Paul Gauselmann, chairman of the Gauselmann Group, and Jürgen Stühmeyer, sales director of the firm in a joint statement.

Merkur Gaming, subsidiary of Gauselmann AG, develops multi-games, cabinets, casino machines, video lottery terminals, and jackpot systems for the gaming industry.

The Association of Gaming Equipment Manufacturers (AGEM) has also announced its latest line up of officials.