The World Poker Tour, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Chinese online gaming company Ourgame, has announced a four-year contract extension for CEO Adam Pliska – extending his tenure in the job past a decade since first taking on the role in 2009.
Pliska will continue to be responsible for the entire WPT portfolio, including live events, televised broadcasts, international distribution, online products/services, and strategic partnerships.
In a statement, the WPT credited Pliska restoring growth to the WPT – and the industry as a whole – by expanding the company’s footprint, delivering significant partnership deals and fostering budding relationships with other gaming sites worldwide. Within five years of him becoming CEO, the WPT had expanded from 14 to 70 tournaments and currently has a presence in more than 150 countries and territories.
He was also key in orchestrating the sale of WPT in 2009 to bwin.party digital entertainment plc for US$12.3 million, then six years later directed the sale of WPT to Ourgame for US$35 million – nearly tripling the value of the company.
“Adam Pliska’s tremendous leadership, successful track record, and proven strategic vision make him the perfect individual to continue to guide WPT Enterprises into the future,” Ourgame CEO Frank Ng. “Adam has undoubtedly taken the company to new heights through expansion of the WPT brand into new and emerging markets, continued development and innovation in the digital gaming space and unparalleled sustainability of gaming’s premier television product.”
Pliska said, “I am honored to have the incredible privilege to continue to lead this great company. I look forward to building on the successful strategies that have allowed the World Poker Tour to continue to raise the bar of our industry. I believe we have only begun to unlock the full potential of the WPT.”