Gov. Gray Davis on Wednesday appointed the executive director of the Washington state lottery to head California's lottery.

Anthony Molica, 54, succeeds Joan Wilson as director of the California lottery. Wilson left the lottery to become deputy secretary of Southern California operations for the state Business, Transportation and Housing Agency.

Molica held a variety of jobs for the California lottery, including director of sales, from 1985 until he was appointed head of the Washington lottery in 2002 by Gov. Gary Locke.

The appointment is subject to confirmation by the state Senate.