Fanatics appoints former PointsBet director to senior player recruitment role
New York-based challenger operator names Chris Bukowski as director of customer acquisition
Chris Bukowski has been instaled as Fanatics Betting and Gaming’s (FBG) new director of customer acquisition, moving over from the newly acquired PointsBet.
Bukowski spent three years at PointsBet as its director of player development and experiences from January 2021 to the announcement of his new role on Tuesday, with FBG completing the $225m acquisition of PointsBet’s US business at the start of April.
Prior to that, he worked for several digital agencies in Los Angeles and San Francisco between April 2015 and April 2018.
He also spent just over two years with NHL franchise the New York Islanders as a senior sales executive.
Announcing the move on LinkedIn, Bukowski thanked several former employees for giving him a chance at PointsBet while also expressing his excitement at the prospect of his future with FBG, a subsidiary of sports merchandise behemoth Fanatics.
He said: “I am thrilled to announce that I have joined Fanatics as director of customer acquisition. After an incredible three-plus years at PointsBet, I’m embarking on a new chapter in my career journey.
“This transition is particularly unique as PointsBet was recently acquired by Fanatics, making this move even more meaningful for me. I am eager to bring my expertise in gaming and acquisition to contribute to Fanatics’ continued success and growth in the industry.
“I’m incredibly excited about this new opportunity and look forward to working with the talented team at Fanatics to drive continued growth and success.
“Special thanks to [former PointsBet chief innovation officer] Seth Young for making the initial introduction to the PointsBet family and helping me break into the gaming industry,” he added.
Fanatics Sportsbook has been launching in various states since the announcement of the PointsBet deal, with customers automatically migrating to the new sportsbook.
The product was rolled out in New York at the end of February, days after arriving in Indiana, and Michigan.
There were further launches in Arizona, at the start of April, and both Kansas North Carolina in March.
In total, Fanatics Sportsbook is now available in 18 US states, while Fanatics Casino can be accessed in Michigan, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia.
The operator was placed sixth in EGR US Power Rankings for 2024, which was published last week.
On Tuesday, April 30, the District Court of Massachusetts granted DraftKings a preliminary injunction against its former vice-president of VIP, Mike Hermalyn, who left for Fanatics in February.
Hermalyn has been accused of stealing and sharing trade secrets with his new employer, where he now serves as president of VIP.
Arnold Ash is EGR’s Executive Recruitment Partner. They support ambitious organisations to identify and attract industry leading executive talent. Find out more here.