AGS announces appointment of Geoff Freeman to board of directors

Freeman, who stepped down from his role as President and Chief Executive Officer of the American Gaming Association (“AGA”) in August, is now the President and Chief Executive Officer of the Grocery Manufacturers Association, the leading representative of the $2.1 trillion food, beverage, and consumer products industry.

AGS President and Chief Executive Officer David Lopez said, “We are excited to welcome Geoff as a new independent director to the AGS Board. Not only does he have a proven track record of effecting significant positive change in our industry, he is a recognized and respected business leader who brings deep strategic, operational, and market development experiences that span across multiple industries. Geoff is an extraordinary executive and a great cultural fit who brings a new perspective to our Board and will be invaluable to the continued growth and success of AGS.”

During his five-year tenure at the helm of the AGA, Freeman led the trade organization to monumental successes that have forever changed the face of the gaming industry, including expanding the organization’s membership by 200 percent; overturning the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act of 1992 (PASPA), which led to legalized sports betting in the U.S.; significantly improved relationships between tribal and commercial gaming operators; spearheading the AGA’s Get to Know Gaming campaign focused on the economic benefits of gaming; and delivering a successful campaign to prevent the IRS from lowering the reporting threshold on slot winnings.

Freeman said, “I’m honored to join the AGS Board of Directors at such an exciting time in the company’s growth journey. Having worked closely with David Lopez and the entire AGS leadership team on numerous initiatives, including their annual GameON Customer Summit, I’m excited to help this passionate, experienced, innovative, and intelligent team take the Company to the next level. I have tremendous respect for the AGS Board, and I look forward to working with them to help AGS continue its momentum.”

Before joining the AGA in May 2013, Freeman served in numerous high-level roles, including Chief Operating Officer for the U.S. Travel Association; Vice President, Issue Management for APCO Worldwide; Director, Government Affairs and Strategic Outreach for Freddie Mac; and Director, Strategic Planning and Public Affairs for the American Association of Health Plans. He earned a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science/Public Policy from University of California, Berkeley.