Flutter announce PokerStars chief as new UK & Ireland CEO following restructure

FLUTTER ENTERTAINMENT have announced their new UK&I CEO after Ian Brown's resignation.

Brown is set to leave the company to pursue options elsewhere after just over two successful years in the role during tricky times for the betting industry.

Flutter operates a range of betting brands, including Sky Bet, Betfair, Paddy Power and PokerStars.

And it's current PokerStars chief executive, Kevin Harrington that will take over from Brown in January 2025.

It's the latest in a long line of promotions for Harrington, who initially joined the company as Betfair's UK commercial director in 2011.

He performed a similar role at Paddy Power before rejoining Betfair as managing director.

Harrington then moved on to PokerStars in 2020, first as chief commercial officer and then CEO in August last year.

The announcement comes amidst a change to the company's structure, with the international division sitting alongside the US business.

There'll be five regions in the new international plans, with UK & Ireland joined by Southern Europe & Africa, Asia-Pacific, Central & Eastern Europe and Brazil.

Flutter chief executive Peter, Jackson said: “Ian’s time at Flutter has been enormously successful. He has transformed the UK & Ireland business on almost every metric and he will be a hard act to follow.

"Kevin’s promotion is very well-deserved and the business will be in safe hands as we embark on the next phase of our growth plan.”

Harrington added: “I’m incredibly proud to be given the chance to take over and run a business I first joined more than a decade ago.

“I want to continue the work that has made Flutter the clear market leader across the UK and Ireland and maintain the high standards we have set – with responsible gambling at the core of all our work.”

On his departure from the company, Brown said: “The transformation over the last two years has been tremendously exciting. I am particularly proud that we have taken share in a challenging market, investing in customer innovation and our people.