Hector Fernandez Departs Aristocrat Gaming. Craig Toner Appointed as New CEO

Craig Toner Takes the Helm

Craig Toner takes on the CEO role with over 7 years at Aristocrat, having held various leadership positions in Australia and the US.

Since moving to Las Vegas 3 years ago, Toner has been Chief Financial Officer & Executive Vice President of Operations for Aristocrat Gaming, overseeing operational and financial strategy.

Prior to Aristocrat, Toner spent nearly 20 years at Lion Ltd, one of the largest beverage companies in Australia and New Zealand, in commercial and operations roles. He is a CPA with a Bachelor of Management Studies in Accounting and Finance.

Aristocrat CEO Praises Toner’s Leadership

Aristocrat CEO and Managing Director, Trevor Croker, highlighted Toner’s significant contributions to the company, stating:

“Craig has been a key part of the global Aristocrat Gaming leadership team that has delivered strong growth and transformational change over recent years. He has also worked closely with our Board and Executive Steering Committee on a number of major strategic and operational priorities.”

Croker further emphasized Toner’s leadership qualities, describing him as “people-oriented, highly collaborative and impactful,” adding, “We are delighted to be able to elevate a proven and capable leader of Craig’s calibre to this role, demonstrating again the depth of talent we have built at Aristocrat.”

Transition Plans and Future Focus

Croker assured stakeholders of a smooth leadership transition under Toner’s guidance, emphasizing continuity in customer focus and strategic execution.

“Craig will ensure a seamless leadership transition, maintaining a relentless customer focus, and continuing to execute our plans. Aristocrat Gaming today is a global team with extraordinary resilience, depth and momentum, and I have every confidence that Craig will continue to build on this going forward, with the support of the many talented leaders across our global business.”

Hector Fernandez’s Tenure at Aristocrat

Hector Fernandez joined Aristocrat in 2018 as Chief Financial Officer for the Americas Gaming division and was appointed CEO of Aristocrat Gaming in 2022. During his tenure, Fernandez played a pivotal role in the company’s operations and strategic growth. As part of his departure, Fernandez is bound by a 12-month non-compete clause.

Commenting on Fernandez’s departure, Croker expressed gratitude for his contributions, stating:

“We thank Hector sincerely for his commitment and recognise his contribution to our business over the last six years.”