Flutter Entertainment has confirmed the upcoming departures of Paddy Power chief commercial officer (CCO) David Newton and Sky Betting & Gaming (SBG), tombola and trading CCO Steve Birch, EGR can reveal.
The exits come as part of a consolidation of commercial leadership for the UK and Ireland (UKI) arm, with former tombola MD Ben Reilly to serve as the segment’s overall CCO.
Reilly will report into UKI CEO Kevin Harrington
The move is part of a “push […] towards a more simplified leadership structure and a drive to leverage scale,” in the UK and Ireland, the NYSE-listed operator said.
Reilly is a Flutter veteran, having worked across Paddy Power Betfair for more than a decade before becoming tombola MD in January 2022.
He stepped up to become Flutter UKI chief product officer in August 2023.
The latest restructure will see both Birch and Newton depart the business later this year, with both of them playing key roles in Flutter UKI’s growth.
Birch has served as SBG, tombola and trading CCO since September 2024.
The 40-year-old has been with SBG for 17 years, having held roles including commercial director, MD of Sky Bet and SBG CCO during his time with the operator.
Newton has headed up the Paddy Power brand since May 2022, after stepping up from his position as retail CEO for the Irish brand.
The 14-year spell with Paddy Power has seen him serve as operations director, UK retail director and retail MD.
As well as Reilly taking on the new CCO position, Flutter UKI has also established a new COO role, which will be assumed by current head of sportsbook product and trading Dom Crosthwaite.
Crosthwaite’s remit will focus on customer journey, including responsibility for all product, sports trading and customer operations.
Crosthwaite, another company stalwart, previously served as Betfair’s interim CEO and chief trading officer for Flutter UKI.
On his new role, Reilly said: “I’ve grown up in Flutter and care deeply about our success.
“We have very ambitious plans in the UK and Ireland and there is huge potential across the Flutter business as AI transforms how we work, develop and innovate.
“I’m incredibly proud to be taking on this position and look forward to building on our unrivalled position in this market.”
Harrington added: “Flutter UKI is a brilliant business with iconic brands and now is the perfect time to focus on the next phase in our growth cycle.
“Like other operators in this market we face the challenge of rising costs, regulatory pressure and increasing competition, but I truly believe we are uniquely placed to take this challenge head on.
“I’m very pleased that Ben will be taking on this role and convinced that under him our brands will thrive long into the future.”
The shift comes after EGR exclusively revealed that 220 Flutter UKI staff working across product and tech were at risk of redundancy.
The headcount reduction is against a “backdrop of increasing cost and regulatory pressure”, the operator said at the time.
Ongoing employee consultations are currently taking place.
The post Exclusive: Sky Bet and Paddy Power CCOs to depart in Flutter UKI reshuffle first appeared on EGR Intel.
Former tombola MD Ben Reilly to be division’s new sole CCO, with Steve Birch and David Newton to leave later this year to create “a more simplified leadership structure”
The post Exclusive: Sky Bet and Paddy Power CCOs to depart in Flutter UKI reshuffle first appeared on EGR Intel.