Genius Sports Group appoints Raine Group VP as new M&A director
Data giant poaches former JP Morgan man Rob Pietroforte to lead M&A roadmap post-IPO
Genius Sports Group has appointed Raine Group VP Rob Pietroforte as the group’s new director of M&A ahead of its IPO.
Pietroforte joins the data giant from merchant bank Raine, where he has served as VP since July 2016.
During his time at Raine, Pietroforte oversaw major transactions including the sale of Major League Soccer (MLS) franchise DC United and the business combination of Accel Entertainment and TPG Pace.
Pietroforte also led Raine’s investment into the Premier Lacrosse League, where he helped broker an official data deal between Genius Sports and the organisation.
The former JP Morgan associate will be responsible for overseeing Genius Sports’ M&A strategy following its listing via a SPAC merger with dMY Technology Group II.
Genius Sports said it expects to have up to $150m of unrestricted cash to fund its M&A roadmap to “accelerate its expansion in the US and internationally”.
Speaking on Pietroforte’s arrival, Genius Sports CEO Mark Locke said: “We have a fantastic track record of over more than a decade of acquiring businesses with huge potential that have both complemented and expanded the global Genius offering.
“Rob’s impressive M&A experience across sports, betting and media makes him a fantastic fit and I’m looking forward to working with him to acquire and integrate innovative companies that can help accelerate this pivotal time in Genius’ growth,” he added.