New Leadership at Hippos ATG Prepares for the Re-regulated Finnish Gambling Market
New partnership between ATG and Hippos concludes initial employee recruitments
Hippos ATG, the joint venture between ATG and Suomen Hippos, has strengthened its executive team with the appointments of Antti Koivula and Joonas Saha. Antti Koivula has joined as the Chief Compliance Officer, while Joonas Saha takes up the role of Chief Commercial Officer. Mikael Bäcke remains as the CEO.
Antti Koivula brings a wealth of legal expertise to Hippos ATG, having previously worked at Legal Gaming Attorneys at Law. His focus was on gaming establishment, licensing, compliance, and risk management, particularly within the Finnish gaming industry. In his new role, Antti will be responsible for building a best-in-class compliance framework to ensure operational excellence while promoting transparency, responsibility, and innovation within the company.
Joonas Saha, with an extensive career in media, telecommunications, and academia, including experience at telecom operator Elisa, is responsible for the commercial strategy and operations of Hippos ATG. His role is to position the company competitively in Finland’s upcoming regulated gambling market.
These appointments are strategic moves as Hippos ATG prepares to enter the liberalized Finnish gambling market, set to open in January 2027. The company will offer online sports and horse race betting, as well as iGaming services.
Antti Koivula is excited about being part of the important journey of building a modern, responsible, and competitive presence in the Finnish market. He expressed gratitude towards CEO Mikael Bäcke and the board for their trust and confidence. Joonas Saha's expertise and commitment are an important addition to Hippos ATG's continued work, and his addition strengthens the company's business.
Hippos ATG is pleased to have Antti Koivula and Joonas Saha joining their new company in Finland. The new leadership team is eager to create a positive and lasting impact in the industry.
The appointments of Antti Koivula and Joonas Saha to Hippos ATG mark strategic moves in the finance and business sectors as the company prepares to navigate the technology-driven gaming industry in the re-regulated Finnish gambling market. Antti Koivula, with his legal expertise in gaming establishment, licensing, compliance, and risk management, will oversee the implementation of a best-in-class compliance framework, while Joonas Saha, with his experience in media, telecommunications, and academia, will focus on positioning Hippos ATG competitively in the upcoming market.
