Ex-Paddy Power sportsbook and trading exec heads to Fortuna Entertainment Group
Aidan Barry swaps Dublin for Prague as he reunites with former boss Victor Corcoran in new role
Former Paddy Power head Aidan Barry has joined Fortuna Entertainment Group (FEG), linking up with ex-Paddy Power online CEO Victor Corcoran at the Prague-based operator.
Barry joins FEG as group of head of sportsbook product performance and trading strategy and will relocate to the Czech capital.
In his new role, Barry will hold oversight of the FEG sportsbook and trading output, with a view to leading the group’s verticals into the future.
He joins FEG after his second spell with Paddy Power between June 2020 and October 2022, as head of commercial for racing and sports.
An industry stalwart, Barry originally joined Paddy Power back in 2007 before rising through the ranks, initially as a risk manager and then as a marketing executive.
A 12-month spell with PokerStars followed, before a four-year stint with Matchbook in his native Ireland from June 2016 until June 2020.
Joining as head of customer relations management (CRM), Barry was then named head of brokerage in February 2017 before a third promotion saw him appointed as trading director in September 2018.
Speaking to EGR, Barry spoke about the “incredible opportunity” at FEG as the group looks to continue its march in Central and Eastern Europe (CEE).
Barry said: “I’m looking forward to working in both a growing region and a growing business in FEG. It is an incredible opportunity to work with a business with a portfolio of well-established brands, huge omnipresence and that operate in fast growing markets.
“It’s a massive business that operates across a number of different countries and channels, so the first couple of weeks for me will be focused on learning as much as possible about our business, our markets, our customers, our products, the team and our competitors.”
Touching on reuniting with Corcoran, who spent four years with Paddy Power between October 2018 and July 2022, Barry added: “It is a bonus for sure, you saw how Paddy Power under Victor’s leadership returned to rapid growth over the last couple of years.
“There’s incredibly strong foundations here at FEG and it’s hard not be excited about the company’s potential with Victor at the helm,” he concluded.
Corcoran was named FEG CEO in September as the operator moved to permanently replace former CEO Per Widerström after interim chief David Vaněk stepped up following Widerström’s departure in February.