"CTO in Focus" Nemanja Maric, Fincore
- Kevin Jones
- Aug 11
- 4 min read
In this edition of CTO in Focus, Gaming Eminence sits down with Nemanja Maric, CTO of Fincore, to discuss his journey through the tech world, from leading engineering teams at Astria and Asseco to spearheading Fincore’s innovative approach to iGaming and fintech solutions. Maric delves into how his leadership principles have evolved with the changing tech landscape, emphasising empowerment, clarity, and technical excellence. He also shares insights into how Fincore is embracing AI, data, and real-time infrastructure to stay ahead in the rapidly evolving sectors of iGaming and fintech.
Gaming Eminence: As you reflect on your journey from leading engineering teams at Astria and Asseco to becoming CTO at Fincore, what core principles have remained constant in your leadership approach, and how have they evolved to meet the changing demands of the technology landscape?
Nemanja Maric: "One thing I’ve learned moving from leading engineering teams to becoming CTO at Fincore is that while technologies are changing dramatically, some leadership principles have stayed rock-solid - but how I apply them has evolved.
The constants for me are:
People First: Great products are built by great teams. My role has always been to support engineers, remove blockers, and create an environment where they can do their best work.
Clarity and Alignment: Even the most talented teams need a shared direction and a clear “why” behind what we’re building.
Technical Excellence: Delivering reliable, maintainable systems will always matter.
What’s changed is the context. Twenty years ago, the hardest part was finding technology that could deliver. Today, we always have multiple robust options - the challenge is picking the right problems to solve and validating ideas quickly. Leadership has shifted from top-down technical calls to empowering teams, ensuring alignment, and focusing not just on building things right, but building the right things at the right time."
Gaming Eminence: What would you say is uniquely "you" in the way you architect technology systems, foster team cultures, or make strategic decisions? How do these elements contribute to Fincore's technological identity?
NM: "I think what’s uniquely me is how I connect architecture, team culture, and strategy into one approach. Architecturally, I focus on modular, resilient systems that evolve with the business instead of locking us into rigid solutions.
On the culture side, I believe clarity and ownership are key - engineers do their best work when they understand the bigger picture, feel trusted to make decisions, and are safe to challenge ideas.
Strategically, I make sure every major tech choice is linked directly to real customer problems and measurable business outcomes. That combination - adaptable systems, empowered teams, and value-driven decision-making is what defines Fincore’s technological identity and allows us to build for speed and long-term success."
Gaming Eminence: Can you recall a recent instance where your approach to a technical challenge diverged from conventional wisdom? What insights or perspectives led you to take a different path, and what were the outcomes?
NM: "Recently, we were designing a core part of our data platform for regulatory reporting. The “safe” approach would have been to build a large, centralized ETL pipeline feeding a traditional data warehouse. Instead, we opted for architecture where processing and validating data locally on sites, then securely synchronizing only the necessary results to the central platform.
Three insights drove this decision:
Resilience: Some client sites have unreliable connectivity, and a fully centralized model would have risked frequent outages.
Cost vs. value: A heavy, monolithic pipeline would have added significant complexity and cost without improving the end results.
Speed: The hybrid approach allowed us to deliver incrementally while keeping flexibility for future scaling or centralization.
The outcome was improved reliability for clients, faster delivery, and lower operational costs - a good example of how questioning “standard” solutions and tailoring architecture to real-world constraints can lead to better outcomes."
Gaming Eminence: How do you personally navigate the balance between driving innovation and ensuring compliance with regulatory and security standards? Is there a guiding principle or framework you rely on when these competing demands arise?
NM: "For me, innovation, security and compliance aren’t opposites - they just need the right framework to work together. My principle is secure-by-design and compliant-by-default. We bake regulatory and security requirements into architecture from day one, not as an afterthought.
When trade-offs arise, I apply a risk-vs-value lens:
Non-negotiables: Core security and compliance baselines are never compromised.
Innovation zones: We experiment in areas where we can safely push boundaries, automate checks, and reduce manual overhead.
This approach lets us move fast without cutting corners - passing audits smoothly while still leaving space for genuine innovation."
Gaming Eminence: Looking ahead to the next decade in the iGaming and fintech sectors, what emerging technologies or trends excite you both as a technologist and as a leader? How are you positioning Fincore to capitalise on these opportunities while staying ahead of the curve?
NM: "I’m most excited about how AI, data, and real-time infrastructure will transform personalisation, decision-making, and trust. Event-driven architectures, data and AI-powered insights will make platforms faster, smarter, and more transparent for both operators and players.
At Fincore, we’re preparing by investing in modular architectures, strong data foundations, and a culture of experimentation - while keeping compliance and reliability non-negotiable. That positions us not just to adapt to future trends, but to help shape the next generation of platforms in our industry."
Gaming Eminence: On a more personal note, what daily habits or practices do you find essential for maintaining your curiosity and creativity in the fast-paced world of technology leadership? How do these habits influence your approach to problem-solving and innovation?
NM: "I make it a point to learn something new every day - it could be a new technology trend, a different industry perspective, or simply exploring how other leaders solve complex problems.
I also protect time to step back and think, because some of the best solutions come from questioning assumptions, not just reacting to what’s in front of you.
And just as importantly, I spend time listening to our engineers and speaking directly with clients. Staying close to the people building and using our systems sparks new ideas, highlights pain points early, and keeps my decision-making grounded in reality."