Catena Media Appoints Board Member Martin Zetterlund as Interim CTO

Catena Media is reshuffling its executive technology leadership by leveraging internal expertise. Martin Zetterlund, a member of the company's board of directors since December 2024, has taken on the role of interim Chief Technology Officer (CTO) with immediate effect. He succeeds Edward Midolo, who managed the group's technology functions for the past two years. This transition underscores the ongoing transformation of the affiliate giant as it seeks to move beyond lead generation toward becoming a comprehensive technical infrastructure provider.

Zetterlund brings extensive background in IT security to Stockholm. As a co-founder of Sentor Managed Security Services in 1998, he has a long career that included the company’s acquisition by Accenture in 2021. His new assignment at Catena Media is structured under a consultancy agreement, allowing him to maintain his seat on the board. This arrangement ensures continuity while the firm redefines the technological foundation necessary for its future growth strategy.

Numbers and facts

The leadership change occurs amid a volatile market environment. On Friday morning, shares of Catena Media (STO:CTM) were trading slightly higher at SEK 2.96 in Stockholm. The company has been under pressure to perform following a significant drop in profits during the second quarter. Zetterlund is expected to bridge the gap until a permanent hire is finalized. CEO Manuel Stan expressed confidence in this internal solution, noting the existing close cooperation.

"Martin has followed our technology work closely from the board and knows the organisation well. His experience of building and running technology businesses will support the team while we complete the recruitment of a permanent CTO." - Manuel Stan, CEO of Catena Media

The search for a permanent CTO remains ongoing. Zetterlund’s background as Senior Vice President of advanced projects at Distil Networks and his work with ScrapeSentry suggest that Catena Media is placing a higher priority on data security and robust platform solutions. This is critical for the planned transformation into a platform provider connecting publishers and advertisers across various sectors.

Background

Catena Media is in the midst of a significant shift. The goal is to evolve past traditional affiliation by building a technical infrastructure that serves a wider range of verticals. Edward Midolo, who is now departing, led the technology department during a period where AI-driven search engines and changing Google algorithms made the classic affiliate business more challenging. Zetterlund must now ensure that the technical implementation of the new strategy remains on track.

Why it matters for German players

For German users who find online casinos through Catena Media’s comparison portals, stability in the technology department primarily means security. With a focus on cybersecurity, it is expected that the platforms will maintain high standards in data processing. The German market is strictly regulated by the State Treaty on Gambling 2021. Players should ensure they use portals that only recommend casinos licensed by the GGL. Such providers are listed on the official whitelist and guarantee adherence to player protection measures, such as the 1,000 Euro monthly deposit limit through LUGAS and the one Euro spin limit on virtual slots. A stable technical partner like Catena Media ensures that links to these legal offers remain functional and secure.

What it means for GGL-licensed casinos

For GGL-licensed operators, Catena Media remains a key partner for player acquisition. The shift toward becoming an infrastructure provider could mean that ad integration and player tracking become more precise. In an environment where illegal operators from Curacao or Malta advertise aggressively, a reputable technical infrastructure is vital for licensed German brands. Zetterlund's expertise in managed security could help protect advertising networks from bot attacks and fraudulent traffic. For German casinos, this CTO change signifies professional continuity while the industry awaits new technical solutions that go beyond simple link referrals.