New Flutter UK and Ireland chief executive announced as part of restructuring of gambling giant

Kevin Harrington has been announced as Flutter Entertainment’s new UK & Ireland chief executive, replacing Ian Brown as part of a restructuring of the gambling giant.

Flutter is set to streamline its operations with Flutter UK & Ireland coming under the umbrella of the group's enlarged international division, which will consist of all of the betting firm's non-US operations. Harrington, who has been PokerStars chief executive since last July, will start his new role in January.

Harrington said: “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.”

Brown, who is leaving Flutter after two years in the role of UK & Ireland chief executive, has been a prominent figure in racing in recent months. 

In an opinion piece published in the Racing Post during the summer, Brown urged British racing to embrace a greater level of change more quickly arguing that the “underlying quality of the product is declining” and that it was becoming “unprofitable” for bookmakers.

Brown described his time at Flutter as “one of the most rewarding experiences of my career”, and added: “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. Kevin has a deep knowledge of our business, and I am confident he will build on the strong momentum to take Flutter UK&I to new heights.”

The US has increasingly become the focus for Flutter Entertainment, with its primary stock market listing moving to New York from London in May. The betting operator, which includes brands such as Paddy Power, Betfair and Sky Bet, raised its revenue and earnings forecasts for the year in its most recent market update this month.

Peter Jackson, Flutter's chief executive, 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.”

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