Future Anthem appoints former Churchill Downs director as Americas GM
Matt Nichols joins the London-based tech firm following a four-year stint with US horseracing heavyweight
Future Anthem has appointed former Churchill Downs senior director of corporate development Matt Nichols as its new general manager (GM) of the Americas.
Nichols will lead the tech firm’s business and build an on-the-ground team in the Americas as the company looks to grow in the region following its Series A financing round in July 2022.
Nichols joins Future Anthem from Kentucky-headquartered horseracing betting giant Churchill Downs after over four years with the firm.
He started as the director of business development for the group’s TwinSpires online gambling division in September 2018 before becoming senior director of business development in March 2020.
Nichols’ last role with the business was as the senior director of corporate development for the entire Churchill Downs brand.
Before his time at Churchill Downs, Nichols had spells with the Bank of America and three years with the national convenience store brand Thorntons in a series of senior roles.
On his appointment, Nichols said: “I am beyond thrilled to join the Future Anthem team to lead their growth into the Americas’ online gaming markets.
“Leigh has identified a compelling market gap, and his team is building industry-best AI and data products that add value to operators and game studios by personalising player experiences across sports betting and casino.”
Nissim added: “We have wasted no time in delivering on our vision and strategy for the Americas by hiring Matt to lead our growth in this key market.
“This is a huge step in the development of Future Anthem; we have always been keen to establish ourselves locally in the US market and to be able to respond to customer needs quickly. Matt’s experience makes him the perfect appointment for this crucial new role.”