‍ReferOn, a state-of-the-art affiliate management system, has won the “Rising Star Provider of the Year” title at the 2025 AffPapa Awards — a milestone that recognises the platform’s bold innovation and rapid growth in the affiliate tech space.‍

This award reflects ReferOn’s ability to deliver fast, transparent and scalable affiliate solutions that answer key industry demands. The category highlights the best rising companies in the iGaming and affiliate marketing industries, celebrating innovation and problem-solving solutions.

The AffPapa Awards is an annual event that recognises greatness in iGaming. The ceremony  celebrates developments and innovations among affiliates, operators and B2B providers who have raised the bar and set new standards.

‍Vladyslav Bondarenko, ReferOn’s Head of Product, commented on the achievement, “ReferOn wasn’t built to impress, it was built to solve. From day one, we challenged how affiliate platforms should work, look and feel — because the existing ones simply didn’t. More than a win, this award highlights the value of asking the right questions and building with purpose.”

2025 has been a crucial year for ReferOn, with the company receiving widespread industry recognition and implementing core product developments. Heading into Q3 and Q4, ReferOn is preparing a range of new features and enhancements focused on elevating the user experience and streamlining affiliate operations. The team will travel to iGB Live in London this July ready to share what’s next, meet with partners and discuss how ReferOn is refining affiliate management.

The power affiliate welcomes its latest addition to the C-level team, who will begin working on strategy for various geographies and new verticals

QiH Group, the affiliate known throughout the industry for its compliance-focus and creative customer retention strategies, has welcomed its new CMO, James McCarthy.

Joining from LiveScore Media, where he was MD, McCarthy will start officially on 2 June, using his experience at betting and gaming giants Betfair, Betway Group – and of course, LiveScore – to inform his new remit at QiH Group to drive profit across all marketing activities.

Based in QiH Group’s London office, McCarthy will manage the marketing team of 17 – which will expand to 27 in the coming months – overseeing double digit growth through marketing channels and commercial relationships, as well as improving on the current team’s capabilities.

Speaking of the new move, McCarthy said: “It’s such a pleasure to join a company that has grown so thoroughly and organically in licensed markets. QiH Group is a big name in the iGaming affiliate space, and I look forward to managing the continued growth in diversified sectors and locations.”

Jamie Walters, CEO of QiH Group, said: “QiH has moved from strength to strength recently, growing and adapting with the iGaming markets in the UK, Europe and North America. Welcoming someone as experienced and talented as James onto our team is another strong step for us. I welcome his expertise and am delighted to see where his marketing leadership takes us.”