Better Collective hands Playmaker CEO additional brief as Action Network GM
Matt Schwimmer to take on dual role as he is selected to head up the media brand in addition to his role as Playmaker CEO
Better Collective has appointed Matt Schwimmer as the new general manager for Action Network as he adds to his existing Playmaker CEO remit.
Since November 2023, the exec has served as the CEO of Playmaker, which was acquired by Better Collective in July that year.
Schwimmer replaced Playmaker CEO and founder Brandon Harris in the role, with Harris shifting across to become the brand’s president and chief content officer.
Schwimmer initially joined Better Collective as its head of US strategy and M&A in March 2022.
Prior to joining the affiliate, he worked as a director at business consultancy EY-Parthenon between 2017 and 2022.
After serving as chair of consulting at JED Consulting from November 2015 to April 2017, Schwimmer worked as an investment extern at Drive by DraftKings between 2021 to 2022.
In stepping up to the general manager position at Action Network, Schwimmer will play a key role in the brand’s strategy.
Patrick Keane stepped down as Action Network CEO in March having held the role since November 2018.
Better Collective acquired Action Network for $240m in May 2021.
Speaking on LinkedIn, Schwimmer said: “As a user of the product since 2017, it’s a great honor to be overseeing things and cannot wait to continue to grow the number one community of sports betting fans across North America.”
Elsewhere, Playmaker was highlighted to have underperformed in Better Collective’s most recent financial results for Q2 2024.
Better Collective recorded revenue of €99m for the period, up 27% year over year.
However, the performance of Playmaker since the 2023 acquisition led Better Collective to renegotiate payment terms for the media brand.
Rather than the $54m initially agreed in 2023, Better Collective will instead pay $23m for the asset.
Arnold Ash is EGR’s Executive Recruitment Partner. They support ambitious organisations to identify and attract industry leading executive talent. Find out more here.