Williams named CEO of 1/ST Technology

Paul Williams, the chief technology officer at The Stronach Group since 2018, has been made chief executive officer of the company’s new racing technology division, the company announced Friday.

Williams, who was the first chief technology officer hired at The Stronach Group, will head the new division called 1/ST Technology. The Stronach Group has been conducting a paper reorganization of its racing assets under the 1/ST brand for a year. Williams also will take on the title of chief technology officer for the 1/ST assets, which include an account-wagering company, a bet-processing company, and related technologies.

The elevation of Williams comes at a time when all racing companies are attempting to shore up their technology divisions due to the nearly wholesale migration of betting to account-wagering operations during the COVID-19 pandemic. Handle at The Stronach Group’s account-wagering company, XpressBet, was up 45 percent in the second and third quarters of 2020 compared to the same time period in 2019, according to Oregon Racing Commission records.

“As we look to the future of Thoroughbred horse racing and gaming in general, the opportunities for expansion and innovation are endless,” Williams said in a press release issued by The Stronach Group.

One month ago, The Stronach Group appointed its head of California racing operations, Aidan Butler, as the president of a new division called 1/ST Content. In that position, Butler will oversee the company’s simulcast and account-wagering businesses.

Before being hired by The Stronach Group in 2018, Williams was the chief information officer of IBEXGlobal and Cantor Gaming.