Valentina Bagniya is the Chief Marketing Officer (CMO) of SOFTSWISS, a leading iGaming software company. She joined in 2020 and built its marketing department from the ground up.
Her team has since grown to about 70 specialists. They cover PR, events, digital campaigns, employer branding, social media, creative work, and analytics.
Bagniya is one of the most decorated marketers in the gambling industry. In 2026 alone, she won two major leadership awards.
Valentina Bagniya at a Glance
| Detail | Information |
| Current role | Chief Marketing Officer (CMO) |
| Company | SOFTSWISS |
| Joined SOFTSWISS | 2020 |
| Industry focus | B2B iGaming technology |
| Marketing team size | About 70 specialists (2026) |
| Earlier career | Marketing leadership at Lidskoe Pivo (Olvi Group), plus brand roles at Nestlé, Heineken, and British American Tobacco |
| Education | Master’s in Information and Communication and an MBA, both from Belarusian State University (BSU) |
| Top recent awards | Woman Leader of the Year (Casino Guru Awards 2026), Woman in iGaming 2026 (SiGMA Africa) |
About SOFTSWISS
SOFTSWISS is an international tech company with more than 15 years in iGaming. It builds casino platforms, sportsbook software, and game aggregation tools for online casino operators.
The company has over 2,000 employees, with teams based in Malta, Poland, and Georgia. Its Casino Platform won Best Platform 2026 at the SiGMA Africa Awards.
Major Achievements
Building a Marketing Department From Scratch
When Bagniya arrived, SOFTSWISS had only a small team of about five marketers. Within three years, she turned that group into a full in-house marketing agency.
The department now runs brand, events, PR, content marketing, creative, and employer branding. Few B2B suppliers in iGaming handle this much work in-house.
Growing the Brand in New Markets
Under her lead, SOFTSWISS expanded into Latin America and Asia. She also boosted the brand’s profile in established hubs like Malta.
A standout moment came in 2022 with a fiery chili-themed brand campaign in Malta. Later campaigns featured Formula 1 legend Rubens Barrichello, the company’s Non-Executive Director in Latin America.
Big Brand Moments at Trade Shows
Her team runs large brand activations at the industry’s biggest events. These include:
- ICE Barcelona
- SBC Lisbon
- SiGMA Central Europe
These shows matter in B2B iGaming. They are where software providers meet the casino operators that license their products.
Championing Data-Driven Research
Bagniya is a leading voice behind the SOFTSWISS iGaming Trends report, now in its fourth edition. She pushes for research based on hard data rather than hype.
The 2026 edition drew on interviews with more than 350 industry professionals. It also used two waves of Kantar market research and a review of over 120,000 media headlines.
Awards and Recognition
Bagniya and her team have collected a string of top industry honors since 2025.
| Year | Award | Event |
| 2025 | B2B Marketer of the Year | EGR Marketing & Innovation Awards |
| 2025 | Marketing Team of the Year (her team’s third win) | EGR Marketing & Innovation Awards |
| 2026 | Woman in iGaming 2026 | SiGMA Africa Awards, Cape Town (March) |
| 2026 | Woman Leader of the Year | Casino Guru Awards, Malta (May) |
The Casino Guru judges praised her role in growing the SOFTSWISS brand worldwide. Bagniya credited the company’s people for the win, not just its business results.
Employment History
Bagniya has close to 20 years of experience marketing age-restricted products. That background fits gambling, where advertising faces strict rules.
Before SOFTSWISS, she spent several years at Lidskoe Pivo, part of Finland’s Olvi Group. She rose from senior brand manager to head of the marketing department.
Earlier, she managed brands at global names like Nestlé, Heineken, and British American Tobacco. She moved to SOFTSWISS as CMO in 2020.
Education
Bagniya holds two master’s degrees from Belarusian State University (BSU). She earned a master’s in information and communication from its Faculty of Philosophy and Social Sciences.
She also holds an MBA from the university’s School of Business and Management of Technology.
Interviews and Public Speaking
Bagniya is a regular speaker and judge at major industry events. Highlights include:
- Gambling Insider (2022): She shared her goals for the SOFTSWISS marketing team in the January/February 2022 issue.
- Marketing Leaders Forum (2025): She gave the keynote “Building B2B Brands That Lead the Game” in London on October 22, 2025.
- 2026 trends video: She explained how to separate real progress from hype, covering AI, top marketing channels, and responsible gambling messaging.
- Trade media: She has spoken with iGB and European Gaming about building a team from zero and key industry trends.
In London, she argued that B2B marketing is “no longer just about logos or campaigns.” For Bagniya, it’s about long-term growth and trust across many markets.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Valentina Bagniya?
Valentina Bagniya is the Chief Marketing Officer of SOFTSWISS, an iGaming software provider. She leads a marketing team of about 70 people.
When did Valentina Bagniya join SOFTSWISS?
She joined SOFTSWISS as CMO in 2020. She started with a team of about five people.
What awards has Valentina Bagniya won?
She won B2B Marketer of the Year at the 2025 EGR Marketing & Innovation Awards. In 2026, she added Woman in iGaming (SiGMA Africa) and Woman Leader of the Year (Casino Guru).
What did Valentina Bagniya do before iGaming?
She spent years marketing age-restricted products like beverages and tobacco. She worked with brands such as Nestlé, Heineken, and British American Tobacco.
What does SOFTSWISS do?
SOFTSWISS builds software for online casino operators. Its products include a casino platform, a sportsbook, and a game aggregator.
