Aristocrat names Dafne Guisard to succeed Trevor Croker as CEO in April 2027

Australian-listed slot machine maker and digital content provider Aristocrat Leisure Ltd announced on Thursday that long-time chief executive and managing director Trevor Croker “intends to retire from his role in April 2027”. “Having sought external advice, and considered both internal and external candidates, the board of Aristocrat is delighted to announce the appointment of Dafne Guisard as CEO-elect, subject to the receipt of any necessary regulatory pre-approvals,” the company said in a filing. Ms Guisard (pictured in a file photo) is expected to succeed Mr Croker in April 2027, following what Aristocrat called “a comprehensive transition”. She will relocate from Aristocrat’s London office, in the United Kingdom, to Las Vegas, Nevada, in the United States, to take up the CEO role. Aristocrat said Mr Croker would remain with the company to support Ms Guisard for 12 months from the announcement, until mid-November 2027. Ms Guisard joined Aristocrat’s executive team in early 2026 as chief commercial officer for Europe, the Middle East and Africa. She “has since also taken on responsibility for the Product Madness operating business,” the firm’s social gaming arm. Before joining Aristocrat, Ms Guisard served as chief operating officer of global gaming company Entain. She also held positions in investment banking and consulting. She holds an MBA from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) Sloan School of Management. Aristocrat’s chairman, Neil Chatfield, was cited saying that the board considered Ms Guisard the “ideal choice” to succeed Mr Croker. He added: “Dafne is an outstanding product- and people-focused executive with a strong commitment to customers. She has an exceptional track record of delivering growth and transformation across multiple complex consumer industries,with global experience, and deep product and technology skills.” Mr Chatfield said that, in considering a replacement for Mr Croker, Aristocrat’s board “had regard to the benefits of an internal appointment, including performance continuity and scope for a seamless transition”. The chairman also expressed appreciation for Mr Croker’s tenure, “after what will have been more than a decade as CEO and 18 years in senior leadership at Aristocrat”. Mr Chatfield said Mr Croker’s contribution to the company and its stakeholders “has been outstanding, with the company’s market cap growing fourfold”. “Aristocrat has achieved strong operational performance and profit growth, underpinned by a refreshed strategy and step-change in organisational capability,” the chairman added. Mr Croker said in prepared remarks: “It has been a privilege to lead Aristocrat through a decade of significant change and opportunity,” he said. “Now is therefore the ideal time to begin the process of the CEO transition.” Ms Guisard said she was “deeply honoured” to be chosen to lead Aristocrat. “I look forward to working closely with Trevor, the board and my executive team colleagues to ensure a smooth transition, and accelerate our momentum over coming years,” she added. The CEO transition announcement came on the same day Aristocrat reported its financial results for the year ended September 30. The firm posted revenue growth of 3.8 percent in constant currency, “driven by product leadership and market share gains in key markets, supporting underlying business momentum”, with adjusted net profit after tax (NPATA) up 9.7 percent.