Fitzdares adds former Ladbrokes veteran as COO

Fitzdares has appointed former Ladbrokes head Nick Dutton as the group’s new chief operating officer (COO).

Dutton joins the bookmaker from Sporting Group where he has served as chief technology officer since June 2021.

The new COO joins the business with immediate effect and becomes the latest addition to the company’s C-suite following the arrival of CFO Martin Semler.

Dutton has additionally served as CEO of FDJ Gaming Solutions UK since 2019, while he also had a stint as COO of gaming solutions provider Laverock Von Schoultz.

He spent more than two decades with Ladbrokes across multiple roles, culminating in his position as director of information systems in Italy and Spain.

Dutton will be responsible for overseeing Fitzdares’ strategy across IT, product, people and trading.

Dutton said he was ready to help Fitzdares “lead the pack” ahead of joining the business.

He commented: “Fitzdares is an industry trailblazer, with an unrivalled blend of cutting-edge technology, a truly personal feel for its customers and bold ambitions.

“The gaming industry is one of the most competitive out there, and Fitzdares offers something unique to its members that sets them apart.”

William Woodhams, Fitzdares CEO, said: “We are over the moon to beef up our senior team with a highly experienced operator like Nick.

“He brings over 35 years of experience in the sector to our UK and international operations and will help make sure Fitzdares moves into our next 100 years with top-tier technology and services that will continue to offer a sporting experience like no other to our customers.”

Back in October, Fitzdares penned an extension to its existing partnership with Premier League side Fulham through to the end of the 2023-24 season.

Arnold Ash is EGR’s Executive Recruitment Partner. They support ambitious organisations to identify and attract industry leading executive talent. Find out more here.