Kindred Group CEO takes on chief online betting and gaming officer role with FDJ
Nils Andén to form part of brand-new executive committee following FDJ’s €2.5bn acquisition of the multi-brand operator last year
Kindred Group CEO Nils Andén has been named as La Française des Jeux’s (FDJ) chief online betting and gaming officer as part of a new-look executive committee.
FDJ completed its €2.5bn acquisition of the Unibet parent company in October last year, thereby creating one of Europe’s largest gambling companies in the process.
The French company has now released further details of its new structure, comprising four divisions.
Those are the French lottery and retail sports betting arm, which FDJ has a monopoly on in the market.
Online betting and gaming, led by Andén, will encompass sports betting, horseracing, poker and online casino operations.
International lottery, predominantly FDJ’s ownership of Premier Lotteries Ireland, is the third arm.
Payments and services makes up the quartet of divisions for the state-owned business.
FDJ added there will be “cross-functional departments” supporting the four main pillars, including areas such as “innovation, technology, digital acceleration, data and AI as well as group functions”.
Stéphane Pallez will continue to lead FDJ as CEO and chair, while Pascal Chaffard has retained his CFO position.
Andén was named Kindred’s permanent CEO in February 2024 after holding the position on an interim basis since May 2023.
The Swede had stepped into the space vacated by former long-term boss Henrik Tjärnström, moving up from his role as chief commercial officer.
Andén originally spent a decade with Kindred between 2006 and 2016, eventually becoming chief marketing officer before moving to CurrencyFair and then Entain.
He rejoined the 32Red parent in 2020.
A company statement read: “FDJ Group’s acquisition of Kindred creates a European champion with a diversified, balanced profile, underpinned by businesses under exclusive rights – chiefly the lottery in France and Ireland – and businesses open to competition in the European online betting and gaming market.
“The group’s new operating model highlights the digitalisation, diversification and globalisation of its activities. It represents the newest phase in the organisational transformation of the group, which is now present in nearly 15 countries.”
Pallez added: “With the acceleration of digitalisation, the diversification of our activities and our international expansion, we are entering a pivotal phase of our transformation.
“To support this momentum and drive our growth, I am pleased to introduce our new executive committee, a team of committed and passionate individuals.
“Together, we share an ambitious vision: seizing new opportunities and opening up new horizons in Europe.”
Arnold Ash is EGR’s Executive Recruitment Partner. They support ambitious organisations to identify and attract industry leading executive talent. Find out more here.