People news 7 April 2016
The latest people news from the egaming industry in the last seven days (1 April to 7 April 2016)
Paddy Power Betfair rejigs top team following McCue exit
CEO Breon Corcoran opts not to appoint new COO and instead promotes three senior members of staff
Paddy Power Betfair (PPB) is in the process of restructuring its commercial management team after chief executive Breon Corcoran said he would not be appointing a direct replacement for the recently departed COO Andy McCue.
In an email to staff, seen by EGR, Corcoran explained he would instead share the chief operating officer’s responsibilities among three members of his senior team.
The switch-up sees former Paddy Power online MD Johnny Harnett become managing director of commercial international for the recently combined firm.
The role will see Hartnett take on responsibility for the operator’s international businesses, excluding Italy, while in addition Hartnett will lead PPB’s risk and trading, VIP, product and B2B divisions.
William Hill Online CIO Phil Moyes departs
William Hill Online’s chief information officer (CIO) Phil Moyes has stepped down after more than a decade at the operator.
The news comes just weeks after Moyes, who is believed to have been placed on gardening leave, was replaced as group CIO by Kevin O’Connor and moved into an online-only role.
He joined William Hill back in in 2003 and worked his way up via a number of senior roles including group programme director and chief technology officer.
Seven days in people news:
Paddy Power Betfair to cull 650 UK and Ireland jobs
Paddy Power Betfair plans to cut up to 650 jobs in the UK and Ireland and close three offices, including PowerTower in London, as it looks to streamline the business post-merger.
In an email sent to employees, and seen by EGR, Paddy Power Betfair CEO Breon Corcoran said it was a “necessary step to create one efficient business”.
“With the appointment of senior leaders now largely complete, we’re starting work on the detailed design for each function at the next level,” Corcoran said.
Sun Bets names Kevin Beard as head of sportsbook
Sun Bets has appointed ex-William Hill man Kevin Beard as its head of sportsbook as it continues to build an experienced team ahead of launch.
Beard, who spent almost seven years as Hills’ head of sports, will join the Tabcorp-powered, News UK-owned brand in May, ahead of a planned launch during the coming months.
As the head of Tabcorp’s British trading team, he will primarily look after book creation and trading sports and events that are intrinsically UK-based.
Senet Group chief exec Finlay resigns
The Senet Group is on the hunt for a new chief executive following the resignation of the self-regulatory body’s CEO Ron Finlay, it was announced this week.
Finlay was a founding member of the London-based independent body and played an integral role in the creation of its responsible gambling initiatives, as well as the launch of the ‘When The Fun Stops Stop’ brand.
The Senet Group currently has six members following the addition of its first online-only operator Sky Betting & Gaming in February and has appointed executive recruitment company Gatenby Sanderson to find a replacement for Finlay.