Wayne Pickup leaves Allwyn for Australia's Lottery Corporation
The Lottery Corporation, one of Australia’s largest lottery operators, has announced the appointment of Wayne Pickup as its incoming Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer. Pickup, the outgoing CEO of Allwyn North America, will officially resign from his position effective 14 November.
“The entire Allwyn team thanks Wayne for his leadership and vision, which have helped to put Allwyn North America on the map,” said Allwyn Group CEO, Robert Chvátal. “While we’re sorry to see Wayne go, we look forward to working with him over the coming months on a smooth transition to new leadership. We have begun the search for Wayne’s successor, who will continue driving growth in the Illinois Lottery and the expansion of our wider North American business.”
Pickup joins Australian market leader
Mr Pickup is set to join the Brisbane-based company on 24 November 2025, pending the receipt of all necessary regulatory approvals. Until those approvals are secured, he will act as an observer to the Board, while the current Executive Leadership Team continues to manage day-to-day operations under the Board’s oversight. He will be succeeding Sue van der Merwe who will retire after a 35-year career in the lottery industry.
The Lottery Corporation is the operator of The Lott and Keno brands across Australia’s states, excluding Western Australia. The company was established in 2022 following the demerger from Tabcorp.
Extensive global experience
Wayne Pickup brings more than two decades of international experience to the role, having most recently served as CEO of Allwyn‘s North American operations for seven years. Prior to that, he was CEO of Lotto New Zealand.
“Wayne is a proven leader with a strong track record and a deep understanding of lotteries developed over many years in the industry,” said Chairman Dr Doug McTaggart. “Having held senior leadership roles in technology, product management and game management, Wayne brings a diverse skill set and understanding of high-performing lotteries businesses.” He added, “He is a high-calibre appointment who takes over from Sue at an exciting time for The Lottery Corporation, its shareholders and its customers”.
In response, Mr Pickup said: “I am honoured by the appointment and excited to join The Lottery Corporation at such a pivotal time. The Australian lottery market has tremendous potential for innovation and growth, and I look forward to working with the talented team at The Lottery Corporation to deliver value for shareholders while enhancing the lottery experience for millions of customers across Australia”.
A legacy of leadership
Ms van der Merwe, who has led the company since its inception, announced her retirement on 24 March 2025. She will remain in her role until Mr Pickup begins, supporting a structured transition.
“I want to pay tribute to Sue for her long and successful career in lotteries which has spanned almost 35 years – including leading TLC over the past three years,” said Dr McTaggart. “Her deep experience and expertise have helped TLC to become the leading operator of lottery and Keno games in Australia, and one of the best performing lottery businesses in the world”.
