Betfred names ex-Nike and Adidas manager Cath Ryan as new head of brand and customer experience
Operator secures experienced figure to lead company’s branding efforts, while Ryan’s new role will also see her tasked with bolstering consumer engagement
Betfred has announced the appointment of Cath Ryan as the company’s new head of brand and customer experience.
It is a role in which Ryan will be entrusted to strengthen Betfred’s brand positioning as well as increase customer engagement, in a bid to guarantee long-term success for the operator.
Ryan brings a wealth of experience to her new post – her first in the gaming sector – having most recently been head of brand for Pets at Home Group, a title she occupied from December 2021 up to this month.
In that position, Ryan spearheaded significant brand transformation and improved the customer experience across multiple channels.
Prior to Pets at Home, Betfred’s newest addition spent over two years as brand director at Create the Avalanche between August 2019 and November 2021, and before that she was head of brand and advertising at N Brown Group, a digital clothing and footwear retail platform, for just under five years.
Ryan boasts experience at some of the biggest companies in the world on her CV, including over a decade with Nike. She joined the sportwear giant as international brand manager for the women’s department in 2002 and rose through the ranks to brand marketing director by the time she left in 2013.
Between 1997 and 2001, Ryan was entrusted in a number of different prominent positions with fellow sportswear titan, Adidas. Before she left the firm, Ryan had spent seven months as brand manager for both the running and women’s departments.
Reflecting on her new role with Betfred, Ryan said: “I’m thrilled and excited to join Betfred and contribute to its ambitious goals. I look forward to leveraging my experience to drive exceptional brand and customer engagement.”
It was a sentiment shared by Betfred CEO Joanne Whittaker, who highlighted Ryan’s experience with Nike and Adidas as key factors behind her appointment with the Warrington-based legacy bookmaker.
“Cath’s expertise in sports marketing and her innovative approach to brand development make her a perfect fit for Betfred,” Whittaker remarked.
“Her extensive experience and visionary approach will be invaluable as we enhance our brand and deepen customer connections. We’re excited to welcome her to the team.”
Ryan is not the only notable arrival at Betfred this September. Earlier this month Nick Cockerill was named chief product officer (CPO) after his recent departure from data firm Stats Perform.
In what is a newly created role for the brand, Cockerill’s duties as Betfred CPO include building the company’s online segment, bolstering the retail offering and “accelerating the transition of Betfred into a technology first organisation”.
Arnold Ash is EGR’s Executive Recruitment Partner. They support ambitious organisations to identify and attract industry leading executive talent. Find out more here.