WMS Industries hires longtime IGT executive Ron Rivera

Slot machine maker WMS Industries' expansion of its U.S. sales and marketing division includes hiring a longtime gaming equipment sales executive who spent two decades with rival manufacturer International Game Technology.

WMS said Monday that Ron Rivera will join the company as vice president of western division sales and national accounts on July 9. Rivera held several senior level sales and management position with IGT after joining the company in 1986. He was senior vice president of sales for North America when he left IGT in July 2011.

WMS also promoted Rick Riehm to vice president of eastern division sales. Riehm previously oversaw thes Central Atlantic region. WMS also hired Steve Byrne, a former Caesars Entertainment Corp. executive, as executive director of product marketing.

"Each have extensive gaming industry experience with demonstrated track records of leadership and success," WMS President Orrin Edidin said in a statement. "With the benefit of their industry experience and leadership, WMS is taking a significant step forward in further strengthening the alignment between our sales and marketing efforts that will support WMS' initiatives."

Contact reporter Howard Stutz at hstutz@reviewjournal.com or 702-477-3871. Follow @howardstutz on Twitter.