SiGMA News turned its spotlight on Jonas Warrer, the forward-thinking CEO of Gentoo Media. He discussed the company’s rebranding of GiG Media to Gentoo that involved a new name, logo and visual identity, while maintaining the same team and brands. The company is operating under the name Gentoo and aims to create a uniform identity and culture.

Warrer, (pictured above), with his extensive background in innovation and business development, is a leader who truly encapsulates the diverse aspects of modern-day leadership. He exudes a palpable enthusiasm that is infectious. His affable and approachable demeanour, coupled with an evident passion for the industry, not only makes him a likable figure but inspires those around him. This charismatic style is evidently a driving force behind Gentoo’s innovative strides in the industry.

“By staying true to our values and working together, we can cultivate new ideas and drive our business forward”
JONAS WARRER

The official separation of the company is scheduled for the latter half of 2024. The transformation is not just a change in name and logo, but a massive step to creating a cohesive identity and culture under the Gentoo banner. Warrer explained how despite these changes, the team and brands remain the same, ensuring continuity.

Jonas Warrer views the rebranding initiative as being more than just a new name. It is a strategic initiative aimed at strengthening the business. He has had comprehensive discussions with partners and employees to identify the core characteristics required for the business. These values and attributes are now embodied in the new brand, which he believes will serve as a catalyst to enhance operations. Warrer is confident that this rebranding will make the business structure more robust, offering substantial advantages to shareholders and instilling confidence in the future prospects of Gentoo.

The balance between tradition and innovation is a key aspect of Warrer’s leadership strategy at Gentoo. He went on to share his approach to maintaining the company’s authenticity while also encouraging innovation. He expressed his commitment to preserving Gentoo’s core values, which are rooted in humility, drive, and collaboration. Warrer said that he actively strives to engage with as many individuals within the company as possible, fostering collaboration both within and between teams. By adhering to these values and promoting teamwork, he believes that Gentoo can generate new ideas and propel the business forward.

Warrer further elaborated that the name Gentoo is a nod to the Rebel Penguin origins, embodying qualities of agility, resilience, and a trailblazing spirit. This heritage will persist in influencing the company’s ethos, promoting a climate of innovation, flexibility, and a defiant approach to industry obstacles. Gentoo’s business strategies will reflect these principles, with a focus on inventiveness, and a ceaseless quest for excellence. This harmonious blend of respecting the past while fearlessly embracing the future is a defining characteristic of Gentoo’s identity.

Splitting up the business

When asked how Gentoo is preparing for the challenges that may arise from the company split, Warrer indicated that the company has been preparing for this transition for a long time and that the two companies have already separated. However, he added, “it is of course vital for us to ensure a smooth transition and maintain high quality operations”. He agreed that the company will face many challenges, particularly in transitioning corporate and support functions from a centralized setup to the two new business units. Warrer carried on to say how, after parting ways with the Gaming Innovation Group, Gentoo now has a strategic plan to maintain its competitive edge. He acknowledged the effort and dedication required for successful rebranding. He also highlighted the significant support Gentoo received for its planned split from investors, partners, and employees. He believes it reflects the strong relationships and trust that Gentoo has nurtured over the years with its stakeholders.

The focus is on enhancing the company’s affiliate business and perpetuating the strong organic growth that the company experienced in recent years.

Warrer recognises the importance of technology and Business Intelligence (BI) in staying competitive. The company’s intention is to continue investing in these areas to strengthen proprietary media and the marketing platform, as well as unique BI. By increasing the understanding of data, Gentoo aims to deliver even more impressive results in the future.

Recent acquisitions and 13 impressive quarters

Over the past 12 months, Gentoo made three significant acquisitions: Ask Gamblers, KaFe Rocks, and most recently, Casinomeister. These acquisitions were strategic fits, aimed at maintaining Gentoo’s pole position in casino affiliation and furthering its diversification strategy.

Warrer says that the Casinomeister acquisition, although it may have appeared unexpected, was too good an opportunity to pass up. Going forward, Gentoo plans to focus on integrating the last two companies it acquired and building on the progress made with Ask Gamblers.

Warrer also highlighted Gentoo’s impressive financial performance with 13 successive quarters of all-time high revenue. Specifically, on 7 May, 2024, for Q1, GiG Media reported revenues at an all-time high of €28.0 million, a significant increase of 52 percent (21 percent organic) from €18.4 million. The EBITDA for the same period was €13.5 million, up from €8 million. Furthermore, First Time Deposits (FTDs) for GiG Media were 125,100, up 13 percent year-over-year (YoY) from 110,800.

Warrer also discussed the company’s strategic plans. The business is operationally ready for the formal split of Media and Platform & Sportsbook. This split is expected to take place by Q3 2024, pending approvals and further demonstrating Gentoo’s commitment to transparency and shareholder communication.

Jonas Warrer – Quickfire questions

Age: 46 years
Family: Wife and two kids age 10 and 14
Education: Master Science Management of Innovation and Business Development from Copenhagen Business School
Last holiday: Greece “(my favourite place to go)”
Best advice: Assume most people know more than you do
Relaxation: Fixing things in the house and garden

SiGMA East Europe Summit powered by Soft2Bet, will take place in Budapest from 2-4 September 2024.