Scientific Games CEO Pat McHugh to Retire; Kevin Schneider Named Interim Successor

by Dimitri Dimitrov Published on August 4, 2026
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Professional portrait of Kevin Schneider, Interim CEO of Scientific Games
Key Takeaways
⏱ 2 min read
1
CEO Transition — Pat McHugh will retire as CEO on September 8, 2026
2
Interim Appointment — Kevin Schneider, who has served on the board since 2022 and as Vice Chair since March 2026, will assume the role of Interim CEO
3
Advisory Role — McHugh will stay on as Vice Chair in an advisory capacity to support the leadership handover
4
Executive Background — Schneider brings more than 35 years of executive leadership experience in regulated industries, including previous roles as COO and CEO at Genworth Financial

Longtime Industry Leader to Step Down on September 8, 2026, After More Than Two Decades With the Company

Scientific Games has announced that Chief Executive Officer Pat McHugh will retire on September 8, 2026, concluding a career of more than 20 years with the company. Following McHugh’s retirement, the Board of Directors has appointed Kevin Schneider as Interim CEO while a search for a permanent successor is conducted. To ensure a seamless leadership transition, McHugh will remain with Scientific Games in an advisory role as Vice Chair.

Executive Leadership Perspectives

David Nowak, Chairman of Scientific Games and President of Brookfield’s Private Equity Group, stated:

“On behalf of the Board, I want to thank Pat for his leadership and his many contributions to Scientific Games over the past two decades. Throughout his career, Pat has helped strengthen the company, expand its global lottery business and build trusted relationships with customers around the world. We appreciate his continued support during this transition.”

Pat McHugh reflected on his tenure, noting:

“I am grateful to have worked alongside so many talented colleagues and to have partnered with lottery customers around the world throughout my career, many of whom I consider friends. I am proud of what we have accomplished together, achieving new heights and many industry firsts, and I am grateful for the trust our customers and business partners have placed in Scientific Games.”

Incoming Interim CEO Kevin Schneider added:

“Scientific Games has earned the trust of lottery customers around the world through decades of partnership, innovation and operational excellence. I appreciate the Board’s confidence and the opportunity to serve as Interim CEO. I look forward to working alongside our leadership team as we continue executing our strategy, supporting our customers and delivering the operational excellence that defines Scientific Games.”

Incoming CEO Schneider brings more than 35 years of executive leadership experience leading global businesses in highly regulated industries. Prior to joining the Scientific Games Board, Schneider served as Chief Operating Officer of Genworth Financial and previously led both its U.S.

Mortgage Insurance and Global Mortgage Insurance businesses as President and Chief Executive Officer. Earlier executive leadership positions with GE Capital and GATX further strengthened his experience in operations, commercial strategy and organizational leadership.

Dimitri Dimitrov

Dimitri is an iGaming expert with nearly a decade of experience and a knack for crafting content that speaks directly to the iGaming crowd. He understands affiliate marketing, player psychology, and search algorithms, which enables him to write engaging, data-driven articles.

Sources
1 source verified before publication. This news is an official press release that traces directly to official documents by Scientific Games. How we verify sources →
1
Scientific Games
David Nowak, Chairman of Scientific Games and President of Brookfield’s Private Equity Group, · Official Body Primary
"On behalf of the Board, I want to thank Pat for his leadership and his many contributions to Scientific Games over the past two decades. Throughout his career, Pat has helped strengthen the company, expand its global lottery business and build trusted relationships with customers around the world. We appreciate his continued support during this transition."
https://www.scientificgames.com/news/media-releases/scientific-games-announces-retirement-of-ceo-pat-mchugh/ ↗
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