Flutter Entertainment has expanded its board of directors with the addition of Disney chief financial officer (CFO) Christine McCarthy and ex-Liberty Media CEO Robert Bennett.
Both board appointments are effective from 30 July. McCarthy will become a member of the Flutter audit committee and Bennett the risk and sustainability committee.
McCarthy joins the Flutter board having spent the last 24 years working for Disney where she acts as a strategic advisor. Her Disney career also spans stints as CFO and senior executive vice-president.
Before her time with Disney, McCarthy held senior finance positions with Imperial Bancorp and First Interstate Bancorp.
Alongside this, McCarthy currently serves as a director for The Procter & Gamble Company, FM Global and National Geographic.
Meanwhile, Bennett is currently managing director at private investment company Hilltop Investments.
Prior to this, he was president of media business Discovery Holding Company and principal financial officer at Liberty Media Corporation. Bennett also spent time working with Tele-Communications and The Bank of New York.
He currently serves as a director of HP and Liberty Media and has over his career held director roles at Warner Bros Discovery, Sprint Corporation, Demand Media, Discovery Holding Company, Liberty Interactive Corporation and Sprint Nextel Corporation.
“Christine and Rob’s extensive experience in the entertainment industry will be an invaluable asset to Flutter as we continue to extend our leading position as a global online sports betting and igaming provider,” Flutter chair John Bryant said.
“We look forward to welcoming both Rob and Christine to the board as non-executive directors. We will benefit from their unique perspective and industry knowledge.”
Changes at the top for Flutter after NYSE primary listing
The double board appointment follows Flutter completing its transition to a primary listing on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) due to “the company’s growth trajectory and changing dynamics of global markets”. Completion was confirmed at the end of May.
Flutter shares remain eligible for and continue to trade on the main market of the London Stock Exchange (LSE).
The US primary listing saw group chief financial officer (CFO) Paul Edgecliffe-Johnson step down in light of family commitments in the UK. The operator said the role required extensive executive management time to be spent in the US.
Rob Coldrake was immediately announced as his replacement. He previously served as CFO of Flutter International since joining the group in 2020.
Prior to this, Coldrake spent 14 years working in a range of financial roles at TUI Travel and PwC.
