Mr. Rafael (Rafi) Ashkenazi, is a former The Stars Group CEO and a future Executive Chairman of Hard Rock Digital. Previously a Playtech COO, he joined the Rational Group in 2013 and had been with the company that eventually became known as The Stars Group for seven years. Taking over as CEO in 2016, Rafi is widely recognized to have played an integral role in the business leaving an incredible footprint on all it's aspects. Mr. Ashkenazi, who initially joined Stars Interactive Group in January 2013 as Chief Operating Officer, is an experienced gaming industry executive who previously served as Chief Operating Officer of Playtech plc (LSE: PTEC), a global gaming software development company (Playtech), from January 2006 to January 2010 and then from September 2011 to January 2013, and as a member of the board of directors of Playtech from March 2006 to January 2010. From January 2010 to September 2011, Mr. Ashkenazi served as Vice President of Business Operations of Playtech. He was appointed Senior Vice President of Strategy for The Stars Group in April 2015, Chief Executive Officer of Stars Interactive Group in November 2015, Interim Chief Executive Officer of The Stars Group in March 2016 and then permanent Chief Executive Officer of The Stars Group in November 2016. Mr. Ashkenazi graduated with honors from Shenkar College in Israel where he earned a B.A. in Industrial Engineering.