PointsBet appoints first ever Canada CEO
Australian operator bolsters senior leadership team with hire of Scott Vanderwel as chief exec
PointsBet has strengthened its Canadian leadership team with the appointment of Scott Vanderwel as its first ever CEO.
As CEO of PointsBet Canada, Vanderwel will oversee the Australian firm’s operations in the market following the legalization of single-event sports betting.
Vanderwel joins PointsBet after spending more than nine years with Rogers Communications in Toronto, culminating in his position as SVP of digital operations from April 2018 until January 2021.
He previously spent 13 years as an associate partner at consultancy firm Monitor Group, which was later acquired by Deloitte
He will report into PointsBet global CEO Sam Swanell and will assume the position on 17 August.
Vanderwel becomes the third senior hire to be appointed to the PointsBet Canada team, with former Monkey Knife Fight president Nic Sulsky joining as chief commercial officer in June and Chantal Cipriano being appointed as VP of legal, compliance and people earlier this month.
Speaking on his appointment, Vanderwel said: “The sports betting industry has demonstrated how it can entertain consumers, engage sports fans and deliver quality products, and PointsBet has been at the forefront of doing it the right way.
“We’re going to build a modern, responsible, distinctly Canadian operation and I can’t wait to get started.”
Swanell commented: “We’re thrilled that Scott has agreed to serve as the first CEO of PointsBet Canada and help us build a team and a business strategy that can serve the new Canadian market with the same sort of creativity and customer-focus that our clients in the US and around the world have come to expect from PointsBet.”
Elsewhere, PointsBet confirmed it had reached a market-access agreement in Arizona after inking a partnership with Cliff Castle Casino Hotel which will see the operator work with the Yavapai-Apache Nation in pursuit of a license to operate online sports wagering.