Former Betsson Technology Chief Tapped to Lead Allwyn Group Tech Strategy

Allwyn AG has appointed Fredrik Ögren as Group Chief Technology Officer, the lottery-led gaming entertainment company said in an October 6, 2026 announcement from Lucerne, Switzerland. Ögren joins from Betsson Group, where he spent the last five years as chief technology officer, and reports to Kresimir Spajic, the chief executive of Allwyn Digital.

In the role, Ögren takes responsibility for shaping and delivering Allwyn’s technology strategy. The company said his remit is to build a better-connected, more efficient technology ecosystem that supports growth across the group, reinforces its markets and improves the experience for customers.

During his five years at Betsson Group, Ögren was responsible for the operator’s technology strategy, managed the development of its large-scale platforms and supported its international expansion across multiple regulated markets, according to the announcement. Allwyn said that background in leading technology transformation at scale would help accelerate its digital ambitions, with Ögren working closely with teams across its markets and central functions to advance innovation, deepen platform capabilities and support ongoing product development.

The appointment also establishes a new position for Brett Cross, who had been serving as interim CTO. Cross moves into the newly created role of CTO, Global Lottery & Deputy Group CTO, reporting to Ögren.

“I am thrilled to be joining Allwyn at such an exciting stage in its growth journey,” Ögren said. “Technology plays a critical role in creating great player experiences, enabling innovation and supporting long-term business success.” He added that he looked forward to collaborating with colleagues across the group to further connect its technology ecosystem, strengthen its capabilities and support Allwyn’s next phase of growth.

Allwyn Digital

Spajic, to whom Ögren reports, was named CEO of Allwyn Digital in August 2025, when the company announced the creation of the new global business area. Allwyn said at the time that the unit would support the group’s ambition to become more digitally led and connected in how it operates. Spajic joined from Betfred, where he had been CEO of the US business, taking up the post on September 1, 2025 and reporting to Allwyn CEO Robert Chvatal. The company said he would be responsible for advancing the group’s iGaming, sportsbook and digital product capabilities, citing more than 20 years of online gaming industry experience that included an advisory role at Apollo Global Management and senior positions at Great Canadian Entertainment and Hard Rock International.

Spajic welcomed the appointment in the October 6 statement. “We’re delighted to welcome Fredrik to Allwyn,” he said. “He brings deep industry experience, strong technical expertise and a proven track record of leading technology transformation across global organisations.” Spajic described the hire as an important step in building a more scalable technology platform across the group, and thanked Cross for his leadership as interim Group CTO, congratulating him on the new Global Lottery role. He said the two together form a strong technology leadership team to guide Allwyn’s next phase of growth.

National Lottery Transformation

In a March 23, 2026 update, Allwyn UK reported that National Lottery digital sales reached £4.1 billion in 2025, up 9.8% on 2024. Digital represented 51% of all National Lottery sales, exceeding half of the total for the first time in the lottery’s 31-year history. The operator said a record 12.1 million people were playing the National Lottery on digital platforms, including 1 million new active digital users during 2025. Total sales came to £8.1 billion for the year, up 3.5% on 2024, in what was Allwyn’s first full year operating the National Lottery.

Allwyn UK said the transformation, backed by more than £450 million of investment, delivered more than 30 new systems and migrated 18 million player records and over three billion historical transactions off legacy platforms. The programme also replaced more than 41,000 legacy retail terminals across an estate of 43,500 retail partners. The operator described the work as the most extensive overhaul of the National Lottery’s operations and technology since the lottery launched in 1994, and said it had satisfied the Gambling Commission that the requirements for Fully Implemented Commencement under the Enabling Agreement had been achieved. It noted the year-on-year comparisons were calculated on a like-for-like basis, grossing up 11 months of 2024 trading to a full-year equivalent.

Allwyn UK reported more than £1.7 billion generated for Good Causes in 2025, equivalent to £33 million every week, up from £30 million a week when the company took over National Lottery operations in February 2024. The operator said it is on track to double the weekly contribution to £60 million by the end of the licence in 2034.