Simon Johnson leads the iGaming division at Light & Wonder as its Chief Executive Officer. He stepped into the role in January 2025 after eight years with the company. Today he runs a global online casino content business that keeps growing under his watch.
Who Is Simon Johnson?
Simon Johnson is the CEO of iGaming at Light & Wonder. It’s one of the largest gambling technology companies in the world. He took the role in January 2025, reporting directly to President and CEO Matt Wilson.
Johnson studied Modern History at the University of Oxford, graduating in 1997 with a Master of Arts. He spent almost two decades in investment banking, private equity, telecommunications, and financial technology before he ever worked in gambling.
He joined Light & Wonder in 2017, back when the company was still called Scientific Games. He has held five different roles there, each with more responsibility than the last.
Simon Johnson’s Career Before Light & Wonder
Johnson’s resume reads like a tour through corporate finance. He built the foundation for his gaming career long before he entered the industry.
He started at ING Barings in 1997, working on mergers and acquisitions in developed and emerging markets. In 2000, he joined Blenheim Chalcot as VP of Corporate Development. There, he raised $80 million for a portfolio of technology and media investments.
He later helped build Agilisys, a business process outsourcing company that grew past $100 million in turnover. In 2005, he became Chief Commercial Officer at The Rights Company.
There, he grew revenue from $500,000 to more than $4 million. That growth positioned the company for its eventual purchase by a major US entertainment company.
Johnson then moved to Cable & Wireless in 2006. He worked directly with the Chairman and CEO on acquisitions, including a $400 million deal for THUS.
In 2009, he became Chief Commercial and Strategy Officer at DST Global Solutions, now known as SS&C. There, he helped turn a $50 million loss into $15 million in profit over five years.
In 2014, Johnson founded his own advisory firm, Simon Johnson & Co, helping senior teams with fundraising and operations. Three years later, he joined the gambling industry for good.
Simon Johnson’s Career Timeline
| Year | Milestone |
| 1997 | Graduates Oxford, joins ING Barings in mergers and acquisitions |
| 2000 | VP of Corporate Development, Blenheim Chalcot |
| 2005 | Chief Commercial Officer, The Rights Company |
| 2006 | Joins Cable & Wireless, works on the $400 million THUS deal |
| 2009 | Chief Commercial & Strategy Officer, DST Global Solutions |
| 2014 | Founds advisory firm Simon Johnson & Co |
| 2017 | Joins Light & Wonder (then Scientific Games) as Group Commercial Director |
| 2020-2022 | Interim MD, UK, then SVP & Managing Director, EMEA |
| 2022-2025 | SVP & International Managing Director, EMEA, Asia Pacific, and ANZ |
| 2025 | Appointed CEO, iGaming division |
Simon Johnson’s Path to CEO at Light & Wonder
Johnson joined Light & Wonder in 2017 as Group Commercial Director. He rebuilt the sales and product organization and pushed the company into new hardware markets.
He then moved through a string of promotions. From 2020 to 2021, he served as Interim Managing Director for the UK.
He became Senior Vice President and Managing Director for EMEA in 2021. In 2022, he added Asia Pacific and ANZ to his territory as SVP and International Managing Director.
That expanded role put him in charge of commercial strategy across three continents. His performance in that job set up his next move.
Why Light & Wonder Promoted Simon Johnson to CEO
Light & Wonder named Johnson CEO of iGaming on January 9, 2025. He replaced Dylan Slaney, who had led the division for seven years before stepping down in November 2024.
The company credited Johnson with driving international commercial growth across its gaming business. His promotion came right after Light & Wonder posted a strong Q3 2024 report. iGaming revenue rose 5.7% year over year to $74 million, while total company revenue climbed 11.8% to $817 million.
Johnson now reports to President and CEO Matt Wilson and sits on the Executive Leadership Team. He runs the iGaming division day to day, with full profit-and-loss accountability.
What Simon Johnson Is Doing as iGaming CEO
Johnson’s focus as CEO centers on three things: game content, platform strength, and expansion into regulated markets. Light & Wonder’s Open Gaming System gives operators access to a wide library of casino-style content. Johnson has pushed to grow that library further.
The results show up in the numbers. Light & Wonder’s iGaming revenue grew 18% year over year in the first quarter of 2026. That’s a faster pace than the 5.7% growth reported just before Johnson took over.
Light & Wonder hit a company-wide record of $1.44 billion in adjusted EBITDA for 2025, beating its target. iGaming’s growth under Johnson helped drive that result.
He has kept the division’s momentum going despite new industry pressure. The UK’s 2026 gambling tax increase is one example.
iGaming Growth: Before vs. Under Simon Johnson
| Metric | Before Promotion (Q3 2024) | Under Johnson (Q1 2026) |
| Johnson’s title | SVP, International MD | CEO, iGaming |
| iGaming revenue growth (YoY) | 5.7% | 18% |
| Reports to | Regional leadership | President & CEO Matt Wilson |
| Territory | EMEA, Asia Pacific, ANZ | Global iGaming division |
The Bottom Line
Simon Johnson spent almost two decades in finance and telecom before he ever touched the gambling industry. That background shaped how he runs Light & Wonder’s iGaming business today: methodical, growth-focused, and comfortable with complex international operations.
Eight years after joining as Group Commercial Director, he now leads a global division that keeps outgrowing its own targets. Keep an eye on Light & Wonder’s future earnings reports to see how far Johnson can take it.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Simon Johnson at Light & Wonder?
Simon Johnson is the CEO of iGaming at Light & Wonder, a role he took on in January 2025. He joined the company in 2017. He previously served as Senior Vice President and International Managing Director for EMEA, Asia Pacific, and ANZ.
When did Simon Johnson become Light & Wonder’s iGaming CEO?
Light & Wonder announced Johnson as its new iGaming CEO on January 9, 2025. He replaced Dylan Slaney, who left the role after seven years with the company.
What did Simon Johnson do before joining Light & Wonder?
Johnson spent about 20 years in investment banking, private equity, telecommunications, and financial technology. He held senior roles at ING Barings, Cable & Wireless, and DST Global Solutions before joining gambling in 2017.
Who does Simon Johnson report to?
Johnson reports directly to Light & Wonder President and CEO Matt Wilson. He is also a member of the company’s Executive Leadership Team.
Where did Simon Johnson go to school?
Johnson earned a Master of Arts in Modern History from the University of Oxford in 1997.