Tabcorp has announced the appointment of Michael Fitzsimons, currently an executive director at the Hong Kong Jockey Club (HKJC), as its first chief wagering officer.
Fitzsimons will take on the new role before the end of H1, subject to relevant regulatory and probity approvals. He will oversee all core wagering functions including digital, retail, tote, trading, product and marketing at Tabcorp.
An industry veteran of 20 years, Fitzsimons has worked in gambling across Asia, Europe and the US. He has been serving as executive director of wagering products at the HKJC since September 2025. He also had a spell as its director of trading.
Prior to the HKJC, he spent over six years as director of international trading and operations at Stars Group. Here, he oversaw the roll-out of the PokerStars Sportsbook and relaunched SkyBet in Germany and Italy.
Other industry roles include trading director at Gambit, director of Sporting Hedges and trading manager for Cantor Fitzgerald.
Fitzsimons has also been serving as chairman of the Asia Pacific Lottery Association since October 2024. He is also an executive committee member of both the World Tote Association and United Lotteries for Integrity in Sports.
CEO welcomes “rare find” Fitzsimons
Tabcorp managing director and CEO elect, Gillon McLachlan, welcomed the appointment. He said Fitzsimons is a “rare find” due to his vast industry experience.
“Michael is one of the world’s most sought-after wagering executives,” McLachlan said. “He brings extensive global sports betting experience to Tabcorp. He has a deep knowledge of international sports betting, trading and tote.
“He knows digital and retail wagering and is one of the few people in the world who can connect both to grow a wagering product.”
New-look management team at Tabcorp
Chief wagering officer is just one of several new roles at Tabcorp. Last month, the group set out details of its new executive leadership team structure, which also included creating a chief commercial and media officer position.
Fitzsimons’ role, Tabcorp said, brings together the wagering functions of digital, retail, trading, marketing and product, including Tote innovation.
Meanwhile, the chief commercial and media officer role aims to deliver stronger commercial outcomes. Jarrod Villani, most recently regional leader of media business Paramount ANZ, has been appointed to the position.
“The creation of a chief wagering officer is a significant uplift in wagering capability within our executive team,” McLachlan said. “The simpler vertical structure brings all levers that grow wagering together under one executive to ensure first class execution.”
