Betfair appoints former Playdom VP in reshuffle
New CEO Breon Corcoran announces a number of new management appointments in first results statement in role.
Betfair has looked towards major multinational corporations as it makes the first wave of new management appointments under Breon Corcoran, bringing in individuals with experience at Diageo, Disney and eBay.
The appointments follow last month’s arrival of chief financial officer Alex Gersh, who replaced longtime incumbent Stephen Morana, while the operator’s former corporate development director Mark Brooker has taken on a new role of managing director of sports.
Brooker’s move follows an 8% year-on-year increase in sports revenue for the six months ended 31 October, with the European Football Championships helping football revenue rise by 15% compared to the corresponding period last year.
Corcoran has appointed specific managing directors for games and for the operator’s exchange business, with the former role being assumed by Paul LaFontaine. LaFontaine most recently served as CEO of social networking and gaming business Sulake, and before that was VP of global distribution at Disney’s social gaming arm Playdom.
John McElligot arrives as MD of the exchange business, having spent the last six years with eBay in a variety of roles, most recently heading up eBay’s Danish-facing business DBA.
Meanwhile Betfair has brought in Mark Ody as brand director. Among Ody’s previous roles was head of marketing for Guinness, while during his spell at Diageo he has also held responsibility for the Malibu and Bombay Sapphire drinks brands.
Corcoran said at today’s results announcement: “Betfair has a unique product offering, strong brand affinity and scale in the UK. However, we have also identified a number of areas requiring change and fixing these will take time.”
The operator has trimmed down its workforce since Corcoran’s arrival from Paddy Power in August, with former UK MD Peter Marcus among the more high-profile individuals to leave.
eGaming Review understands that the operator has no plans to appoint a direct replacement in Marcus’ role, instead folding his duties into those of another executive.