Genius Sports chief communications officer Chris Dougan has stepped up to become the firm’s new chief government affairs officer.
Dougan, who has been with the New York-listed business since 2015, will turn his focus to stakeholder engagement across multiple geographies as Genius Sports looks to expand.
Dougan played a key role in the US, both pre- and post-PASPA, and in recent years has turned his attention to Brazil, which regulated on 1 January 2025.
In Brazil, the supplier has deals with operators such as Rei do Pitaco to supply data. It also holds a partnership with the Brazilian Football Association (CBF).
The new chief government affairs officer joined Genius Sports from advocacy and PR firm Goddard Global, where he had served as managing partner.
Dougan joined Genius Sports around the time it put pen to paper on an integrity deal with Major League Baseball and started laying foundations for its US push.
Speaking to EGR following the promotion, Dougan said the new post is “where I began”, reflecting on his days of lobbying in the US for the legalisation of sports betting.
He added: “In this sector, regulation doesn’t follow the market. It defines the market. Taking on the chief government affairs officer role is a core driver of our growth, and building those relationships with government helps define us in the market.
“Perhaps right now, more than ever, the strength of relationships with government and with regulators – they matter.”
The shift comes as Genius Sports named former LG Ad Solutions head Tony Marlow as its new chief marketing officer in April.
Dougan continued: “We’re a bigger business now. With our move to New York, we hired Tony, and there’s a real focus on the advertising business. As we grow as a business, that government affairs, regulation and policy arm needs to have full-time dedication.
“This has been in the pipeline while we’ve been settling on a candidate for chief marketing officer, making sure we’re expanding the sales of our products into the market and enabling advocacy to have a life and team of its own.”
Looking ahead, Dougan said the business was “well-positioned” as regulation opportunities begin to crop up across the globe, citing the UAE as a key example.
Genius Sports is due to release its Q1 2026 earnings on 7 May.
The firm is in the process of closing its $1.2bn acquisition of Legend, which was announced earlier this year.
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The post Genius Sports comms boss shifts to chief government affairs role first appeared on EGR Intel.
Chris Dougan takes on new brief after 10 years with the company, as he says department needs “full-time dedication”
The post Genius Sports comms boss shifts to chief government affairs role first appeared on EGR Intel.