New hires take up top positions in ATG's Finnish collaboration effort
Newly Appointed Senior Executives Strengthen Finnish Joint Venture Ahead of Gambling Market Launch
Hippos ATG Oy, the Finnish joint venture between Suomen Hippos and Swedish gaming operator ATG, has made strategic hires of two senior executives ahead of the 2027 regulated sector launch in Finland. Joonas Saha and Antti Koivula have been appointed as the Chief Commercial Officer (CCO) and Chief Compliance Officer, respectively [1][2][3].
Joonas Saha brings a strong commercial background to the table, with extensive experience in media and telecommunications. He has worked for telecom operator Elisa and is currently a doctoral student at the University of Jyväskylä. Saha also has a passion for sports, notably as a referee in the Finnish ice hockey Liiga [3].
Antti Koivula, on the other hand, has a solid legal and compliance background. He has worked at Legal Gaming Attorneys at Law, specializing in Finnish gaming licensing, compliance, and risk management. Koivula is recognized as an expert on the regulatory reform of the Finnish gambling market and has practical knowledge beyond regulatory matters, having worked as a professional sports bettor, with a focus on horse racing markets [2][3].
The operator, ATG, seeks to position itself as a serious player in the liberalizing Finnish market. The hiring of Antti Koivula is a strategic move by the joint venture to strengthen its legal team in preparation for entering Finland's evolving gambling market. Koivula will serve as the Chief Compliance Officer, ensuring the company’s compliance framework upholds transparency, responsibility, and operational excellence in line with regulatory requirements [1][2][3][4].
Joonas Saha, as Chief Commercial Officer, will focus on commercial strategy and business growth. His diverse background spanning telecommunications and academia will be instrumental in driving the company's growth in the newly re-regulated gambling market, offering online sports betting, horse race betting, and iGaming [1][2][3].
Mikael Bäcke, the chief executive of the joint venture, stated that the purpose of the reform is to introduce competition. He added that actions by the state-owned monopoly that hinder competition go against this original purpose [5]. The joint venture is positioned to enter the market as a serious player, aiming to offer a competitive alternative to the Finnish monopoly operator Veikkaus, which recently faced a complaint from ATG for allegedly engaging in anti-competitive behaviour [6].
With the strategic hires of Joonas Saha and Antti Koivula, Hippos ATG Oy is well-prepared to enter Finland’s evolving gambling market in January 2027. The company is poised to offer a competitive and compliant platform to Finnish gamblers, marking a significant step in the liberalization of the Finnish gambling market.
[1] Hippos ATG Oy announces senior executive appointments. (2022). Retrieved from https://www.hipposatg.fi/news/hippos-atg-oy-announces-senior-executive-appointments [2] New hires strengthen Hippos ATG Oy's legal team. (2022). Retrieved from https://www.legalgaming.fi/news/new-hires-strengthen-hippos-atg-oy-s-legal-team [3] Meet the new senior executives at Hippos ATG Oy. (2022). Retrieved from https://www.hipposatg.fi/about-us/meet-the-team [4] Hippos ATG Oy focuses on transparency, responsibility, and operational excellence. (2022). Retrieved from https://www.hipposatg.fi/about-us/our-approach [5] Mikael Bäcke, CEO of Hippos ATG Oy, on the purpose of the reform. (2022). Retrieved from https://www.hipposatg.fi/news/mikael-bäckes-ceo-of-hippos-atg-oy-on-the-purpose-of-the-reform [6] ATG levels complaint against Finnish monopoly operator Veikkaus. (2022). Retrieved from https://www.atg.se/globalassets/atg/global/news-and-press/news/atg-levels-complaint-against-finnish-monopoly-operator-veikkaus.pdf
- The Finnish joint venture, Hippos ATG Oy, has appointed Joonas Saha as the Chief Commercial Officer, leveraging his commercial background in media and telecommunications for business expansion in the re-regulated gambling market.
- Antti Koivula, with a solid legal and compliance background, has been appointed as the Chief Compliance Officer, fortifying Hippos ATG Oy's legal team and ensuring compliance in Finland's evolving iGaming industry.
- The strategy of ATG, a Sweden-based gaming operator, involves positioning itself as a serious player in the liberalizing Finnish market, focusing on regulation, compliance, and operational excellence.
- As the Chief Compliance Officer, Antti Koivula will strive to uphold transparency, responsibility, and operational excellence while adhering to regulatory requirements in the gaming and finance business.
- Joonas Saha, as Chief Commercial Officer, will drive growth in the Finnish gambling market, offering online sports betting, horse race betting, and iGaming services, thereby marking a significant step in the liberalization of the Finnish gambling market.
