POKER machine maker Aristocrat Leisure Ltd has appointed board member David Simpson as interim chairman, while a search for a permanent chairman and two new directors continues.

Mr Simpson - a director since February this year - takes over from John Pascoe, who has left to become Chief Federal Magistrate.

Mr Simpson was nominated as a director in July last year.

He is a former executive general manager, finance, of winemaker Southcorp Holdings; a former executive general manager, finance, of gambling giant Tabcorp Holdings Ltd; and a former finance director of Tabcorp.

Aristocrat is yet to appoint a permanent chair, although Mr Simpson is a possible candidate, a company spokeswoman said.

Aristocrat chief executive Paul Oneile welcomed Mr Simpson's new appointment.

"David has had a distinguished career, both in financial management and the gaming industry, and I look forward to his contribution as interim chairman and to working with him in his new role," Mr Oneile said in a statement.

Mr Simpson's role as chair of the audit committee will be taken over by director Penny Morris, but Mr Simpson will remain on this committee.

Analysts said the appointment of Mr Simpson as interim chairman made little difference to their views of Aristocrat, which has already undergone extensive management changes in the past year.

"David is well-respected by the market," said UBS analyst Anthony Aboud.

"(Aristocrat) are still looking for two more directors, most likely independent directors. I imagine one of those two directors will end up becoming the chairman."

Aristocrat announced it was seeking two more directors at its annual general meeting in May.

Mr Pascoe leaves after a turbulent time as chairman of Aristocrat, conducting his last board meeting over the past two days.

He took over in April last year when John Ducker resigned to take responsibility for the company's poor performance.

The company has since taken on a new chief executive and new financial officer, and copped millions of dollars in writedowns in an effort to turn around its poor performance.

Mr Pascoe faced angry shareholders at the May AGM who barraged him with questions about a half a million dollar entitlement for Mr Ducker.

However the Aristocrat share price has indeed turned around from the depths of 89 cents last year to edge past the $5.00 mark this week for the first time since late 2002.

Aristocrat shares were three cents lower at $5.10 by 1152 AEST.

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