Dafne Guisard Named As New CEO Of Aristocrat

Aristocrat Leisure Limited has announced today a leadership transition that will see Dafne Guisard succeed Trevor Croker as Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director in April 2027. The announcement, made alongside the company’s full-year results, confirmed that Croker intends to retire from the role, with Guisard named CEO-elect, subject to the necessary regulatory and governance approvals.

Croker, who has led Aristocrat since March 2017, will remain in his role for an extended period to ensure what the company has described as a comprehensive transition. He is expected to remain involved with the business for up to twelve months following the handover, until November 2027, supporting Guisard and the board through the change in leadership.

Croker joined Aristocrat in 2009 and was appointed to the CEO and Managing Director position in March 2017, also joining the board at that time. His tenure has encompassed a period of substantial growth for the company, including its expansion beyond traditional gaming machines into digital and real-money gaming through businesses such as Product Madness and the social casino operations under the Aristocrat umbrella.

Guisard’s Background

Guisard brings a profile that combines operational leadership, digital transformation experience, and commercial expertise across both the gaming and consumer goods sectors. She joined Aristocrat in February 2026 as Chief Commercial Officer for the EMEA region and serves on the company’s Executive Steering Committee.

Prior to joining Aristocrat, she held senior roles at some of the most recognisable global brands:

• Chief Operations Officer at Entain, the global sports betting and gaming group, where she led global strategic planning, customer service operations, and merger and acquisition integration.
• Chief Strategy, Digital and Transformation Officer at Kraft Heinz, a role she held for approximately three years.
• Earlier experience spanning nine years in additional senior operational and strategic positions.

Her educational background includes a bachelor’s degree in Computer Engineering from the Instituto Tecnológico de Aeronáutica in Brazil and an MBA from the MIT Sloan School of Management.

The leadership announcement coincided with the release of Aristocrat’s full-year results, which showed modest profit growth. The market response to the results was cautious, with shares declining as the financial performance did not exceed expectations. The company has also outlined cost-efficiency measures, including targeted annualized savings in FY 2027, and continues to pursue expansion opportunities in newly regulated markets.

The timing of the transition, planned for April 2027 rather than an immediate change, signals an intention by the board to provide continuity while the company pursues its growth agenda across regulated gaming markets, digital entertainment, and emerging jurisdictions such as the United Arab Emirates.