Black Cow Technology has brought in Ernie Lafky as chief product officer to oversee the company’s transition to a gaming content provider.
Lafk joins Black Cow from International Game Technology (IGT), where he was senior director of the PlayDigital Game Studios, having also held senior positions at GSN and PlayStudios. His career began at WagerWorks (later acquired by IGT), where he produced the first Wheel of Fortune online slot game.
Most recently, Lafk oversaw global online slot development at IGT PlayDigital, managing teams across four countries.
“Ernie is one of the most experienced and respected product specialists in the industry, and I can’t think of a better person to fill the CPO role at Black Cow,” said Max Francis, founder and CEO of Black Cow. “The industry is in the very early days of multiplayer, but with our powerful Multiplayer RGS and Ernie on board, we can continue to push technological boundaries and help our partners unlock the full potential the vertical has to offer.”
Commenting on his appointment, Lafky said: “Joining Black Cow as CPO is a dream come true. This role brings together everything I’ve learned in iGaming and social casino over two decades. Since I started in this industry, I have wanted to create online multiplayer slot games. And now Black Cow and its talented engineering team have invited me to bring this new vertical to market.
“Multiplayer games will bring a new level of engagement and entertainment to our players, and Black Cow provides the technology needed to deliver this at scale.”
Tony Plaskow, commercial director at Black Cow, added: “I’d like to take this opportunity to welcome Ernie to the Black Cow team as we look to establish ourselves as a leader in the multiplayer space. Our Multiplayer RGS is unrivalled in its flexibility, capability and power, and we look forward to supporting operators and suppliers as they further explore the vertical.”