Flutter promotes Sky Bet CTO in tech reshuffle

Flutter Entertainment has promoted former Sky Bet chief technology officer (CTO) Rik Barker to chief information officer (CIO) for its UK and Ireland division. Barker most recently served as CTO for the Leeds-based betting operator, having been promoted to the role after serving as deputy CTO in 2018. He also occupied head of technology and director of gaming roles during a five-year period with Sky Bet, which began back in 2015. In his new role as CIO, Barker will be responsible for the technology strategy and teams across the Paddy Power, Betfair UK and Sky Betting & Gaming (SBG) brands. EGR understands Barker will split his time between his new and existing roles until a replacement can be appointed at Sky Bet. Barker will report to newly appointed Flutter UK and Ireland division CEO Conor Grant, who was himself promoted from SBG in August, having occupied the COO role prior to the multi-billion-pound merger between Flutter and The Stars Group. Flutter has also confirmed plans to make its Paddy Power Betfair online sports betting platform the global sports betting platform for the wider group. The integration will begin with US division brand FanDuel later this year.