AFFILIATE MANAGER INTERVIEW SERIES The two individuals of this issue’s affiliate manager interviews are the definition of the phrase, two peas in a pod, especially when it comes to talking about relationships. As you’ll read in the following pages, both Veselka Pendzhurova of WPT Partners and George Gerakanakis from Novi Affiliates believe that people – team members, stakeholders, partners –are at the core of what makes an affiliate manager successful in today’s landscape, regardless of their role. It’s not surprising that Pendzhurova and Gerakanakis value connections as they both cut their teeth as a journalist and lecturer, respectively, which is why they both enjoy having the opportunity to meet new people in the industry. Meet the Affiliate Managers Please tell us a little bit about yourself. Where are you from and where did you grow up? Where do you live today? I am from Kostenets, Bulgaria. This is a village in the skirts of the beautiful Rila mountain. When I was 14 years old, I left Kostenets to study at an English language boarding school. Then I continued with my studies in Sofia, traveled, and started working as a lecturer at Sofia University (St. Kliment Ohridski), and as a customer support agent at a gaming company. Then 13 years after I left, I returned to my home place and started commuting to work. Now, I am working fully remotely from the same village where I grew up. You have been working in the iGaming industry since 2007 and have worked in a variety of different roles, ranging from customer care to quality management to affiliate manager. How did you get your start in the industry and did you always want to work in iGaming? In 2007, I was just finishing my degree in Scandinavian studies at Sofia University and was checking what my colleagues from the university had decided to pursue. The Veselka Pendzhurova WPTPartners G P W A t i m e s . o r g 56
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