Betfair reveals two senior hires
Ian Chuter joins as group operations director, with Michael Bischoff appointed director of information services.
Following a number of departures in recent months, Betfair has announced two senior hires in the last 24 hours.
In a newly created role Ian Chuter will take over as group operations director on 4 July, while Michael Bischoff has been named as the exchange’s new director of information services.
Chuter arrives from William Hill, where he spent close to a decade including two years as group operations director, while Bischoff’s most recent role was as director and head of IT development and production with clearing house LCH Clearnet.
Analyst Ivor Jones of Numis issued a note on Chuter’s appointment this morning, saying his firm “[expects] a better-structured Betfair to result from his influence.”Jones added that “After headlines about senior-level departures from Betfair it is encouraging to see an excellent new hire.”
Mathias Entenmann and Robin Osmond left the company in early April, and their exits were followed by former director of European and public affairs Tim Phillips. Head of mobile Charlie Palmer then left in May, although that departure was quickly tempered by the appointment of former Yahoo executive Raj Velmupalli as vice president of mobile engineering.
Betfair also today announced the launch of a new smartphone horse racing app in time for Royal Ascot which starts today.The “all-in-one” app comprises race cards, form, tips and comments, and allows pre-race and in-play betting. Available on Apple and Android devices, it is the company’s first mobile product to be launched since Velmupalli began his new role.