Top execs head for exit at Paddy Power Betfair

Paddy Power Betfair’s new-look management team has taken shape with a number of high profile senior departures, including Paddys’ chief product officer Peter O’Donovan and CMO Gav Thompson, eGaming Review has learned.

The changes, announced in an email to staff at the newly-merged operator on Monday, will also see Betfair COO Mark Brooker and Paddy Power CFO Cormac McCarthy leave the firm.

As previously reported, former Paddy Power chief exec Andy McCue has stepped into the group COO role and Betfair CFO Alex Gersh has taken on the top finance job.

EGR also understands Betfair man Colm Sevastopulo will take on group trading director mantle, with Paddy Power head of risk Dermot Golden heading for the exit.

The Irish operator’s corporate affairs director Catherine Colloms will also depart.

The majority of the outgoing staff are expected to leave Paddy Power Betfair by or during March and the departures are the start of what will be a wide-ranging integration of the two businesses.

Brooker’s departure, however, is expected to be a longer process as he hands over the Betfair P&L to McCue during the coming months.

O’Donovan previously ran Paddy Power’s online business for several years before moving across into the newly created chief product officer role in September last year.

Thompson joined Paddy Power less than a year ago from customer engagement technology business Thunderhead and oversaw a change in ad agency.

Paddy Power Betfair declined to comment on this story.