eCOGRA Leadership Team

Aoife Nic Chuirc, hailing from Dublin, Ireland, is an accomplished Head of Sales with over two decades of sales expertise. Her extensive career journey, involving diverse roles, including senior management positions, has contributed to her proven success in substantial sales growth and exceeding budget targets. Aoife’s exceptional communication abilities combined with her dedication to fostering relationships makes her a skilled negotiator. Her dynamic approach, coupled with a meticulous eye for detail, positions her as a pivotal asset for any business. Her affinity for observing and recognising the progress and achievements of colleagues amplifies her collaborative spirit. With a Post Grad in Digital Marketing from University College Dublin, Aoife augments her sales acumen with modern strategies. Complemented by a Certificate in Retail Management, she has honed an impressive skill set including people management, event coordination, operations, negotiation, and more. Aoife’s diverse experience, strategic mindset, and passion for achieving results distinguish her as a dynamic Head of Sales capable of driving growth in competitive landscapes.

Bradley is a senior executive at eCOGRA who started his career in professional services with PricewaterhouseCoopers in 2006. After joining the eCOGRA team in 2009, he held the role of Senior Compliance Manager and co-Chief Operating Officer, before being appointed as the group’s incumbent Chief Technical Officer. His responsibilities include overseeing the organisation’s territorial approvals and regulator relationships, alongside its testing methodologies and training. As a detail-orientated and seasoned regulatory compliance expert, he has a knack for grasping and managing complex technical issues. His tertiary studies were completed at the University of Witwatersrand with specialism in Information Systems, Accountancy and Auditing, and he went on to qualify as a Chartered Accountant and Certified ISO 27001 Lead Auditor.

Chad is the Head of Growth at eCOGRA, having joined the company in 2017 and risen quickly through the ranks due to his unwavering commitment to exceeding client expectations. Starting from a grass roots level as a Compliance Tester, Chad’s dedication and drive propelled him to his current role, where he is responsible for developing and executing growth plans and maintaining relationships with clients. A supreme professional, Chad is a strong, confident, and client-focused individual who places great emphasis on building and nurturing relationships with clients. He is always available to provide assistance and ensure that clients’ needs are met, and his dedication to client satisfaction is unwavering.

Chad is an ambitious professional who is committed to driving eCOGRA’s growth and success. He has a strong vision for the organisation and is determined to position eCOGRA as a key player in their clients’ success and growth. His strategic thinking and leadership abilities are core to this, and he is always striving to ensure that eCOGRA is a stronger and better organisation.

Damien Macaulay is an accomplished finance executive with over 20 years of experience in the media and entertainment sector, serving in key roles as CFO and COO. A graduate of Bristol University and a qualified Chartered Accountant trained at PwC, Damien has built a distinguished career across the UK, Australia, and the USA, particularly within B2B services businesses such as Technicolor and The Mill.

Damien’s expertise spans both corporate and high-growth environments, having spent the last decade leading finance and operations teams in scale-up SMEs. His most recent role was as CFO at Universally Speaking, a UK-based, private equity-backed video game QA testing business, where he played a crucial role in supporting AAA studios. With a strong foundation in corporate finance and a passion for driving growth in dynamic industries, Damien brings a wealth of international experience and strategic insight to every organisation he serves.

Douwe joined eCOGRA in 2012 after working as a IT Audit Assistant Manager with PwC. He is an information system and security professional with a keen interest in technology and management. After holding the position as Lab Manager, Mr Bijkersma was soon appointed Head of Departments in 2018 overseeing both Platform and Product services delivery, he was appointed co-Chief Delivery Officer in 2022. His tertiary studies include specialism in Computer Sciences, Informatica and Mathematics, and he went on to qualify as a Certified Information Systems Auditor and Certified ISO 27001 Lead Auditor.

Rashmika Maharaj is a co-Chief Delivery Officer at eCOGRA. As a member of the senior leadership team she supervises her delivery staff to ensure effective project execution whilst overseeing day-to- day operations. She is a methodical, standards-driven and self-motivated individual who has meticulous attention to detail skills with a keen interest in technical compliance and management. Her goals include striving for maintenance of high quality standards, excellent service delivery and ultimately overall customer satisfaction. Rashmika joined eCOGRA in 2015 after qualifying as a Chartered Accountant with PWC and has since gained valuable years of experience in the online gambling industry. Her tertiary education includes a Bachelor of Commerce degree and Post Graduate qualification in Accountancy, Finance, Taxation and Auditing. Outside of work she enjoys a relaxing walk on the beach , a good Netflix binge and cooking up a storm in the kitchen.

Sarah is a marketing optimist with extensive experience in building brands from the inside out, believing that the key to successful marketing is to involve and engage internal teams to create an army of brand advocates. Sarah’s ability to distil the WHY of a brand’s messaging and to communicate this in a powerful way to the relevant audiences has delivered impressive growth throughout her career for a number of companies across varied industries. Relatively new to the gaming industry, Sarah has been fully immersing herself in gambling regulations, supported by the expansive knowledge of the other eCOGRA leadership team members. Based in eCOGRA’s Dublin office, Sarah originally studied Visual Communications at the Limerick School of Art & Design and has since obtained qualifications in Business Development and Training & Development giving her a unique insight for both the aesthetic and commercial impact of her marketing endeavours.

Shaun’s expertise has helped to cement eCOGRA’s reputation as a trusted & effective auditing partner in the gambling industry. He has grown business lines, enhanced recognition and streamlined operations. His ability to mobilise top-tier talent has created a high-performing culture that consistently delivers innovative solutions.

After ten years’ experience at eCOGRA, Shaun proved himself to be a motivated and client-focused executive, ascending to the position of CEO. Over his six-year tenure as CEO, he delivered exceptional growth by designing inventive business strategies aimed at meeting client and staff requirements.  In July 2024 Shaun transitioned from the role of CEO to that of Senior Director, with a wealth of leadership experience and a proven track record of success.

Born in South Africa, Shaun completed his Chartered Accountancy training prior to joining eCOGRA, acquiring qualifications in Information Technology, Auditing, Finance, and Taxation.  Shaun is a registered Certified Information Systems Auditor.

Will brings a proven track record leading customer focused businesses through periods of high growth and international expansion. Will, who joined eCOGRA in January 2024, has previously held positions as Managing Director at UK loyalty programme, Nectar; Executive Vice President & Chief Membership Officer at global e-commerce and fintech giant, Rakuten; as well as Chief Executive Officer of Europe’s fastest growing Health & Beauty D2C business, Invincible Brands. In these roles, he successfully designed and executed strategies, to achieve profitable growth across multiple markets where client experience was essential.

Will started his career at leading strategy consultancy, LEK Consulting and holds a Bachelor’s degree in Philosophy, Politics and Economics from the University of Oxford.