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Leadership transition within the Merkur Group
Paul Gauselmann steps down from the group’s executive management / Michael Gauselmann assumes the roles of Chairman of the Supervisory Board and the Board of Directors of the Gauselmann Family Foundation / Lars Felderhoff is appointed new Chairman of the Management Board
A new chapter is dawning for the Merkur Group as company founder Paul Gauselmann is set to retire as Management Board Chairman on 1 October, stepping back from the company’s executive leadership. For 67 years, he has shaped the destiny of the group, transforming a part-time one-man business into an internationally acclaimed group of companies with total sales revenues of around 4 billion euros and external sales revenues of over 2.7 billion euros. “I have consistently devoted my energy to the company’s welfare, and at the same time to the benefit of our approximately 15,000 employees,” he stated. “Now the time has come to entrust my life’s work to the younger generation,” explains Paul Gauselmann. Lars Felderhoff, 48, CFO of the Merkur Group, will assume the role of Chairman. He will be supported by Jürgen Stühmeyer (64), Management Board member with responsibility for sales, and Manfred Stoffers (70), Management Board member with responsibility for marketing, communications and political affairs, as vice-chairs. “I am delighted that this trio is taking over the helm. They are outstanding leaders with a deep understanding of the company,” adds Paul Gauselmann, who will continue his association with the company as a member of the Gauselmann Family Foundation.
A generational shift is also taking place on another level: Michael Gauselmann (68) is set to assume the role of Chairman of the Supervisory Board from Manfred Grünewald (89) on 1 October. He will also succeed Paul Gauselmann as Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Gauselmann Family Foundation. As the sole shareholder of the group, the Foundation is the hub for all fundamental strategic decisions. “I am thrilled that my son Michael is embracing this important responsibility and will contribute his international experience to our company,” states Paul Gauselmann. Michael Gauselmann, a business administration graduate, joined the group in 1982 and worked across all business segments. He advanced internationalisation by establishing the subsidiary Atronic in 1993, overseeing all foreign operations. For a decade, he served as Vice-Chairman of the Management Board before becoming Co-Chairman of the Group Management Board, sharing responsibilities with Paul Gauselmann from 2004 to 2012. From 2013, he was involved in the then Gauselmann Family Council and, from 2016, in the Gauselmann Family Foundation.
Lars Felderhoff will assume responsibility for executive management as the new Group Chairman. He has overseen the finances and organisation of the Merkur Group since 2018. He started his career in 2000 at the subsidiary Atronic. From 2007 to 2011, he expanded his expertise at the gaming group GTech (now IGT) and at Metro Cash & Carry International, a wholesale group. Felderhoff rejoined Merkur in 2011 as the Commercial Director of the adp Merkur subsidiary. In that capacity, he was in charge of commercial operations for the Merkur business segment, encompassing over 40 companies both in Germany and internationally. As a native of Rahden, he has close ties to the region and understands the roots of the corporate group. “The challenge is immense, and naturally, we will not be able to fill the shoes of an entrepreneur like Paul Gauselmann one-to-one. However, the company is robust and agile enough to continue setting new benchmarks in the future.”
He is assisted by the Management Board’s Vice-Chairs, Jürgen Stühmeyer and Manfred Stoffers. Stühmeyer, who hails from Minden, has dedicated 37 years to the Eastern-Westphalian company, starting as a trainee in 1987 and progressively advancing through the ranks. In his function as the Management Board member responsible for sales, he has directed the strategic orientation and commercial success of the entire Merkur pillar since 2007. Manfred Stoffers joined the company in 2011 as a consultant to the Chairman of Gauselmann AG, and was appointed Management Board member responsible for Marketing, Communications and Political Affairs in 2015.
Paul Gauselmann expressed great satisfaction with the top-level personnel changes, stating, “Reorganising the company by the time I turn 90 has been my wish for some time. We have accomplished this very well and are ideally positioned for the future, particularly as my son Michael, both a member of the Gauselmann family and an experienced entrepreneur, will continue to be involved in the most critical decisions.”
The post Leadership transition within the Merkur Group appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

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HIPTHER Launches FREQ404: Tune in for a Sonic Journey of Balance by Sound and Error by Design
HIPTHER, the renowned online media and event organiser for Gaming and Tech, is turning up the volume – quite literally – with a powerful new initiative that brings music, identity, and community together. Meet FREQ404: an electrifying monthly music mix curated by HIPTHER’s very own Co-Founder, Zoltan Tuendik, under the HPT.R profile.
From the stage to the strategy room, the creative spark of Zoltan and his wife, Betty Tűndik Kiszner Szilágyi, Co-Founders of HIPTHER, has always been a driving force behind the brand. But long before the conferences and curated content, Zoltan was better known to many as DJ Hawkie – a curator of soundwaves and moods. With performances at iconic venues like Ministry of Sound London (during iGB 2014), his passion for electronic music has always been loud and clear.
Now, with FREQ404, he returns to his roots, remixing electronic music and innovation in true HIPTHER fashion.
“My first sessions were live back in 2005–2006, and I recorded my first mix in 2008. Over the years, I’ve dropped the occasional annual mix, but something always pulled me back to the decks. With FREQ404, that pull is now a purpose. To reconnect with the roots, the rhythm, and the community. This time, it’s monthly. This time, it’s staying.” — Zoltan Tuendik a.k.a. HPT.R
The #hipthers are known for their passion for life, wellness, and connection – fostering innovation, sustainability, and movement. Now, they celebrate these pillars with their community and the world through a shared musical experience.
“Error by Design. Balance by Sound.”
HPT.R broadcasts FREQ404 from the glitch in the system, delivering monthly sonic transmissions that blend progressive, techno, vocal house, and deep electronic cuts. Each mix is a journey – hypnotic, immersive, and impossible to ignore.
This isn’t just background music. It’s a frequency for those who feel the pulse of innovation and want to ride its beat.
Why FREQ404?
Because sometimes, the best signals come from the errors in the system. And because music is a companion and inspiration throughout our everyday lives.
From the edge of the digital frontier, HPT.R is setting the tone for a new kind of HIPTHER vibe – one that unites tech, culture, and energy across borders.
🔗 Follow and listen now on Mixcloud and Spotify.
📡 New mix every month. Stay tuned – this is only the beginning.
The post HIPTHER Launches FREQ404: Tune in for a Sonic Journey of Balance by Sound and Error by Design appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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‘Growing the Power of Play’ unveiled as creative proposition for 2026 edition of ICE Barcelona
Delegates attending iGB L!VE 2025, the first edition to be held in London following its relocation from Amsterdam will receive a sneak preview of the new creative which has been produced in support of the January 2026 edition of ICE Barcelona.
The ‘Growing the Power of Play’ creative embraces gaming’s ecosystem and serves as a celebration of the role played by ICE exhibitors and visitors in cultivating, nurturing and growing all aspects of the industry across every gaming sector and in every jurisdiction. The visual depicts an ICE Digital Garden of inspiration with the broader creative including subtle nods to key cultural icons including the Sagrada da Familia and the work of Salvador Dali.
Outlining the narrative Clarion Gaming Managing Director Stuart Hunter said: “Each year we place a lot of emphasis on our creative which sets the tone for the next edition of what is recognised as the most influential and important b2b gaming technology expo in the world. Every defining game, every gaming innovation and every adaptation of new technology has been shown at ICE and whether it’s planting the seeds of innovation, pollinating ideas or cultivating connections Growing the Power of Play encapsulates what the ICE experience is all about. The creative is both brave and different and has huge potential to be applied to experiential activations on-site.”
“It will underpin our global comms campaign as we focus on building on what was a hugely successful debut edition of ICE Barcelona.”
The post ‘Growing the Power of Play’ unveiled as creative proposition for 2026 edition of ICE Barcelona appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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MGA Games Awarded Best Technology Provider at the 2025 Jdigital Awards
The online gaming sector in Spain gathered yesterday in Madrid to celebrate the 10th edition of the Jdigital Awards 2025, an event that brought together operators, providers, and industry figures at the WPP La Matriz Campus. During the gala, cleverly hosted by non-verbal communication expert Jordi Reche, MGA Games was recognized as the Best Technology Provider, reaffirming its leading position in innovation and product development.
The award acknowledges the company for always staying one step ahead, tirelessly innovating, and offering reliable, effective, and close customer support. MGA Games proves that technology can also have a soul when it is placed at the service of clients and the growth of the sector—an essential ally for the online gaming industry in Spain.
The evening was full of memorable moments and familiar faces, including Jesús Martínez, General Director of Technological Innovation of Melilla, and Felipe Masa, Director at EY and tax advisor for Ceuta. As is tradition, the main star was the now-iconic “golden duck”—the unique statuette awarded as a prize, symbolizing the highest recognition of excellence in Spain’s online gaming industry. With its unmistakable silhouette, it once again shone amidst applause and countless photos.
This new award adds to the accolades the company has earned to date, including Jdigital Awards for Best Technology Provider (2018 and 2024), Best Product for Gnomos Mix (2022) and La Voz (2023), Best Initiative for Promoting Gaming Activity for the Spanish Celebrities productions (2022), and Best Technological Innovation Initiative (2024) for its ongoing reinvention and contribution to product certification.
The post MGA Games Awarded Best Technology Provider at the 2025 Jdigital Awards appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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