iGBA
Editorial
In this latest of our Meet the Manager series, we speak to Vlad Cernov, deputy head of affiliates at N1 Partners on how he got into the industry, what excites him about his role and what he thinks is the biggest challenge facing affiliate managers right now.
How did you get into the industry?
I started in iGaming eight years ago as a customer support agent. After some time, I moved into a head of support role, which gave me a deeper look into operations and admin processes. That experience got me curious about the product side of the business and how much was happening behind the scenes. I wanted to understand traffic, conversions and how affiliate marketing really works. It was a natural shift, and that’s where I found my focus.
How did you end up at N1 Partners?
I joined N1 Partners about a year and a half ago as an affiliate manager. My first months were all about working with different traffic sources and digging into deal analytics. After six months, I was offered a team lead position, and now, as deputy head of affiliates, I’m focused on team development and improving the performance of our affiliate programme overall.
N1 is truly a company where growth happens every day. What makes it special is the culture of sharing knowledge and supporting one another - that’s what helped me grow, and now, as deputy, I see it as my mission to be that same source of support and motivation for my team.
What is the biggest current challenge you face as an affiliate manager?
It’s not so much a challenge as it is our strategic focus. Right now, we’re working on increasing FTD volumes in our key geos: Australia, New Zealand, Germany, Canada and Italy. We’re also expanding into new traffic channels. The market’s always changing, and adapting quickly is part of the job. Thankfully, we’ve built a solid, flexible team that’s ready to move fast when needed.
What excites you most about your role?
Definitely the relationships. Building partnerships that last, finding shared goals, even becoming friends with some of our partners – that’s what I love most. I really enjoy conferences too. Nothing beats sitting down face-to-face, having real conversations and locking in deals that benefit both sides. And now, with more responsibility in my role, I’m excited to keep levelling up what we offer affiliates.
Right now, we’re working on increasing FTD volumes in our key geos: Australia, New Zealand, Germany, Canada and Italy. We’re also expanding into new traffic channels. The market’s always changing, and adapting quickly is part of the job
What one thing would you change about the industry and why?
If there were a way to eliminate scams and dishonest actors from the space, I’d be the first to sign up. Every industry has them, but in iGaming, they move fast and follow trends. It’s frustrating because it takes time away from real, valuable work.
What’s your favourite benefit from those N1 Partners offers to its team members and why?
N1 is all about growth - both for our business partners in the market and for our teammates inside the company. Here, you can really feel the momentum and the drive to move forward.
What really stands out is the people. We’ve got a team where you can speak openly, bounce around ideas, and know someone always has your back. That kind of environment makes you want to do your best and enjoy it while you’re doing it.
Regarding benefits… oh, there are a lot: cool conferences, global team events, flexible bonuses and great insurance.
And of course, we can’t forget to mention our exciting promo offers.
How are you utilising AI as an affiliate manager at N1 Partners?
We’re already using AI in smart ways like fraud detection, analytics, conversion prediction, and offering recommendations, for starters. It helps us stay on top of performance and push the right campaigns at the right time. With more and more offers coming in, tools like this are essential. AI also helps group players based on patterns, so we can get clearer insights and make better decisions.
We’ve got a team where you can speak openly, bounce around ideas, and know someone always has your back. That kind of environment makes you want to do your best and enjoy it while you’re doing it
Where are you based? Tell us what your view is like from your desk.
The N1 team is fully remote, bringing together talents from cities and countries all around the world. I live and work in the quiet centre of Riga, Latvia. Windows give me two perspectives: one side looks over a parking lot (not so glamorous), but the other has a view of the river. And that balance between city and calm makes it a great spot to focus.
What’s the best advice you’ve ever received in your career?
Keep your cool and really listen. It’s easy to react fast or let emotions drive decisions, especially when things get intense. But staying calm and listening properly helps you handle situations better and professionally, so you can understand what people are actually trying to say.
If you weren’t working in iGaming, what industry would you see yourself in?
Most likely something connected like operations or analytics in another industry. I’ve run ops in several companies across different regions, so I’d build on that. I mean, I’m always up for learning new things, but at this point, I’d double down on what I already do well.
What’s your go-to way to recharge after a busy workday?
The gym is non-negotiable for me. I try to train at least three times a week and do personal boxing sessions. Though I don’t spar anymore, hitting the bag really clears my head. Outside of that, I spend time with my family and friends. And poker nights with the crew are one of my favourite ways to unwind.
The gym is non-negotiable for me. I try to train at least three times a week and do personal boxing sessions. Though I don’t spar anymore, hitting the bag really clears my head
What’s the craziest experience you’ve had in your life?
I’m terrified of heights, but one day I decided to face that fear and went skydiving. It was terrifying, but literally unforgettable. More recently, I went skiing in Austria, even though I had zero experience. I fell a lot, it hurt, but I powered through, and it felt amazing to conquer something new.