Flutter Entertainment has announced Francesco Durante will step down as CEO of the operator’s Southern Europe and Africa (SEA) division next year.
Durante, who has served as the division’s chief since the start of this year following a restructuring in the Flutter business, will depart on 31 January 2026.
He previously served as CEO of Italy-facing Sisal, which was acquired by Flutter in December 2021 in a £1.6bn deal.
Durante led the business, which runs the SuperEnalotto in Italy, for 17 years.
Flutter SEA was created in January as the business took on a two-arm approach: US and International.
SEA is housed within International, alongside the UK and Ireland, APAC, Brazil and Central and Eastern Europe.
Durante will be replaced by current Flutter SEA CFO Roberto Di Fonzo on 1 February.
A transition period will take place over the coming weeks, with Flutter stating the finance chief’s ascension to the top job maintains “continuity in leadership, providing stability and consistency in business management”.
Di Fonzo had also served as CFO at Sisal, having started his career with the Italian operator as a strategy director.
Alongside Di Fonzo taking the CEO role, regional finance director Laura Orsini will step up to become CFO.
Flutter’s SEA division also includes Snaitech and PokerStars Italy. The New York-listed giant completed its €2.3bn acquisition of Snaitech from Playtech earlier this year.
Flutter said the addition of Snaitech would take its online market share in Italy to around 30%, putting it neck-and-neck with its main rival in the market, Lottomatica.
The division is home to around 5,000 employees and also includes Flutter’s operations in Turkey and Morocco.
A Flutter statement read: “Flutter SEA is preparing for the next phase of its strategic development, supported by the integration of Snai and PokerStars, the growth of Sisal and the opportunities enabled by the Flutter Edge- access to products, technologies and expertise from Flutter, the global leader in sports betting and igaming.”
As per Flutter’s Q3 earnings report, SEA revenue was up 101% to $743m, driven by the acquisition of Snaitech.
Excluding M&A, SEA revenue rose 19%, driven by igaming growth.
Bosses said Sisal’s online growth in Q3 was 46%, while there was 65% growth in Turkey.
Speaking on his exit, Durante said: “I would like to thank the leadership team and all my colleagues for the journey we have shared in Sisal, and more recently, in Flutter.
“It has been a unique experience, both personally and professionally. I am proud of what we have achieved together, as we have reached extraordinary results and faced exciting challenges that now allow us to look to the future with great ambition.”
Di Fonzo added: “I consider it a great privilege to continue the path we have built together with Francesco and the leadership team over the years.
“I am honoured to take on this responsibility, with the goal of further strengthening Flutter’s growth in the SEA region, consolidating leadership positions in key markets, and creating new development opportunities for the group.”
The post Flutter Southern Europe and Africa CEO to step down first appeared on EGR Intel.
Former Sisal boss Francesco Durante to depart in January, with CFO Roberto Di Fonzo to lead the Italy-, Morocco- and Turkey-facing division
The post Flutter Southern Europe and Africa CEO to step down first appeared on EGR Intel.