Flutter names ex-Paddy Power advertising manager as chief of staff for CEO
Karen O'Rourke to replace Portia Walker, with the latter set to lead the integration of Sisal later this year
Flutter Entertainment has welcomed back former Paddy Power advertising manager Karen O’Rourke as chief of staff for CEO Peter Jackson as part of a personnel restructuring.
O’Rourke returns to the Dublin-headquartered operator after a two-and-a-half-year spell with Amazon in the Netherlands.
She also spent time with Uber after leaving Paddy Power in December 2016.
In her new role, O’Rourke will assist driving corporate strategy, while working closely alongside divisional leadership teams.
EGR understands O’Rourke is to replace Portia Walker, who is set to lead the integration of recently acquired Italian brand Sisal following the completion of Flutter’s acquisition of the firm later this year.
Flutter announced a £1.62bn deal to acquire Sisal from CVC Capital Partners Fund VI in December 2021, with the purchase set to complete in Q2 2022.
O’Rourke returns to Flutter where she previously spent more than three years with Paddy Power from August 2013 until December 2016.
She worked in a series of marketing roles, culminating in her position as advertising manager in May 2016, having originally joined the company as a campaign executive.
Speaking on her return, O’Rourke said: “Goodbye for now to a city, company and industry that I’ve adored being a part of.
“Nowhere I’d rather say hello again to, than Flutter Entertainment, returning as chief of staff for the group CEO Peter Jackson,” she added.