Accel Entertainment has announced that it has appointed Cheryl Kondra to its Board of Directors in conjunction with the seat of Chair of the Board’s Audit Committee.
Kondra brings not only decades of gaming industry experience, but also someone who is specifically seasoned in compliance and audits.
The move, effective immediately, comes as Accel continues to strengthen its corporate governance as well as expanding into new markets.
“With Cheryl’s deep expertise in the casino and gaming sector, we are confident her insights will help us further our goal of becoming best-in-class in audit and compliance in the gaming industry and position us to capture new opportunities which align with our expansion strategy,” said Andy Rubenstein, CEO of Accel. “We welcome Cheryl to the board and look forward to her guidance as we expand into the brick-and-mortar retail and casino space.”
Kondra has been in the gaming space for more than 20 years, with significant roles that included Chief Audit Executive at Caesars and Chief Compliance Officer at Pinnacle.
Her work in those positions focused on building comprehensive internal control systems, ensuring regulatory compliance across multiple jurisdictions, and guiding corporate strategy.
“I look forward to joining the Accel Board and leaning on my decades of experience working for multi-jurisdictional public gaming companies,” said Kondra. “I am enthusiastic about the opportunity to help guide Accel’s strategic growth and continue building on its strong track record of innovation and compliance in a complex regulatory landscape.”
Alongside Kondra’s appointment, Accel also announced that Eden Godsoe will not seek re-election at the end of her current term.
Godsoe has served on the board through key phases of the company’s development, including its transition into a public company.
“We are incredibly grateful for Eden’s exceptional leadership and her many contributions during her time on the Board,” said Karl Peterson, Chairman of the Board. “Her insights, efforts, and dedication have been instrumental in guiding the company through key milestones… We wish her continued success in all her future endeavors.”
Accel is also implementing changes to its governance structure, transitioning from staggered three-year board terms to annual elections.
This move is aimed at enhancing transparency and aligning more closely with shareholder interests, the company noted.
All in all, the appointment of Kondra is another step in Accel’s ongoing strategy to evolve with the industry while maintaining strong internal controls and regulatory compliance, something that is only going to be more vital as the years go by.
