Cactus Gaming Appoints Thiago Garrides as New CEO
Brazil.- January o7, 2026 www.zonadeazar.com Previously serving as the company’s CFO, the executive will now lead the company’s management, bringing a new strategic vision focused on improving processes to support all customer fronts.
Cactus Gaming officially announces Thiago Garrides as its new Chief Executive Officer (CEO), kicking off a new strategic cycle focused on operational efficiency, continuous innovation, and sustainable growth, with an emphasis on improving internal processes to better serve customers. Previously the company’s Chief Financial Officer (CFO) since July 2026, Garrides takes the helm at a crucial moment for the iGaming sector in Brazil, which is undergoing a process of consolidation and regulation.
Garrides’ arrival as president strengthens Cactus’ corporate governance and marks the company’s preparation to expand its operations in a solid, responsible manner, aligned with best compliance practices. With this new cycle, the company is positioning itself to advance the evolution of the sports betting and online gaming technology sector, in a context of institutional maturity.
With over 20 years of experience in corporate finance, risk management and treasury, as well as working in highly regulated environments, Garrides brings solid experience acquired at renowned companies such as Inter, Stellantis, ArcelorMittal and Mercantil do Brasil. The executive has a strategic vision focused on governance, financial sustainability and business scalability. His profile is characterised by data orientation, financial discipline, operational efficiency and strong integration between technology, business and compliance.
‘It is undoubtedly a challenge to run the company efficiently, safely and sustainably amid the transformations the market is undergoing, especially in the post-regulation era, but we are confident that the sector will consolidate,’ comments Garrides.
2026 Strategy: customer focus and sustainable growth
In 2026, Cactus Gaming is preparing for a year of sustainable expansion, with an intensified focus on building long-term relationships with operators and expanding investments in technology.
‘Our goal is to lead the next cycle of innovation by offering customised, secure and high-performance solutions, as well as acting as strategic partners to operators, contributing to the construction of a more sustainable market that is aligned with industry regulations,’ says the new CEO.
The Cactus ecosystem will become even more complete, with integrated features that will meet the diverse needs of operators, from player retention to financial, legal and technological integration issues.
With strengthened governance, structural expansion and a solid strategic vision, Cactus Gaming is ready to lead the next phase of evolution of the iGaming market in Brazil and Latin America. The company believes that 2026 will be a decisive year for consolidating a more secure, transparent, competitive and innovative sector, and is positioning itself as a leader in this movement.
Edited by @pererarte www.zonadeazar.com